Bear Cubs bounce back against DVC 65-41

#33 Rose Nevin shooting

SRJC 65, Diablo Valley College 41

            The Bear Cubs (14-9, 5-5) hosted the Vikings (5-15, 2-6) of Diablo Valley College, who only have five active players left on their roster. The Bear Cubs made their first four shots in a row—Lizbeth Zavala's 3-pointer, Trinity Hawkins' drive, Ciarah Michalik's 5-foot pull-up jumper, and Hawkins' steal and layup—plus one of two free throws by Hawkins to jump out to a 10-0 lead after two minutes and eight seconds of play. The Vikings scored six unanswered points on four free throws and a field goal before Lizeth Zavala made one free throw at the 4:02 mark. Shadae Williams scored on a drive with 2:53 on the clock to close the gap to 8-11. The Bear Cubs tallied six more points in the period on Trinity Hawkins' drive and over-the-shoulder shot from three feet out, her two free throws, and Ashleigh Barr's 1-footer on a baseline inbounds play to take a 17-8 lead.

            The Vikings' post player, Chaunice Carr, scored the first basket of the second quarter. Kierra Johnson's putback went in 19 seconds later. Junn Brooms made a field goal, then Lizeth Zavala scored on a drive. Two minutes after that she drew a shooting foul and made one free throw. Carr swished a 3-pointer and Ayana Berry made a 2-pointer to get to 17-22 at the 5:30 mark. On the Bear Cubs' next possession, Kierra Johnson caught the pass from Ciarah Michalik next to the hoop and banked in the shot. Rose Nevin was fouled trying to score inside and sank both free throws with 3:03 on the clock. In the final minute of the period, Lizbeth Zavala drove through the key to score, Shadae Williams hit a shot and one of two free throws, and Lizbeth Zavala swished a deep 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Bear Cubs a 31-20 lead by halftime.

            The Bear Cubs put together an 8-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter on two baskets each by Ashleigh Barr and Trinity Hawkins. Chaunice Carr's 3-point play at the 5:47 mark accounted for the Vikings' first points of the period. Kierra Johnson scored on a baseline inbounds play just eight seconds later. Beginning about a minute after that, the Bear Cubs made five shots in a row—Rose Nevin's putback and her pull-up 4-foot jumper, Hannah Webb's 3-point play after first catching the outlet pass and dribbling 75 feet down the court to make the layup, and consecutive 3-pointers by Alex Ditizio and Trinity Hawkins. Meanwhile Shadae Williams made two free throws and two field goals. Junn Brooms added two free throws with 58 seconds left. By the end of the quarter the Bear Cubs' advantage had stretched to 54-31.

            Kierra Johnson scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a putback with 8:00 on the clock. Chaunice Carr was fouled 25 seconds later and made both free throws. The Bear Cubs made three shots in a row—Johnson's putback, Ashleigh Barr's 4-footer, and Trinity Hawkins' 3-pointer—for a 63-33 lead at the 5:11 mark. The Vikings scored the next three points on three out of four free throws. With 2:33 left Hanna Morris dropped in a 5-footer for the Bear Cubs' final points. The visitors finished with a 3-pointer by Williams and a basket by Carr, as the Bear Cubs claimed a 65-41 victory over the athletic but short-handed Vikings.

            Neither team shot particularly well. The Vikings made just 12 out of 56 shots (21%), while the Bear Cubs were successful on 26 out of 72 (36%). Chaunice Carr led the Vikings with 17 points, and Shadae Williams totaled 15.

            For the first time this season every one of the Bear Cubs who played scored. (Tal Webb was sidelined while her stitched cut heals.) Trinity Hawkins scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Kierra Johnson totaled 10 points and 8 rebounds. Lizbeth Zavala and Ashleigh Barr each added 8 points, Rose Nevin a season-high 6 points, Lizeth Zavala 4, Hannah Webb and Alex Ditizio 3 each, and Ciarah Michalik and Hanna Morris 2 each. Rose Nevin pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds, Ashleigh Barr also totaled 10 rebounds, and Hanna Morris 9. Ciarah Michalik passed for 7 assists.