Big victory for Bear Cubs over Cosumnes River

Lucca Lowenberg driving

SRJC 94, Cosumnes River College 34

            The Bear Cubs (13-2, 2-1), missing two guards, hosted the Hawks (6-9, 0-3) of Cosumnes River College, who were also missing a guard. The Hawks scored the first five points of the game on Luisa Contreras' one-hander from just below the free throw line and Ashley Gonzalez's 3-pointer before Ashleigh Barr banked in a 2-footer off an assist from Meredith Gilbertson with 7:19 on the clock. Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer tied the score. Ciarah Michalik made one free throw and so did Gonzalez. Sheriene Arikat's 12-footer was followed by Gonzalez's field goal and two free throws at the 4:05 mark, putting the Hawks ahead 10-8. The Bear Cubs scored nine unanswered points—Lowenberg's 3-pointer, Barr's putback and two 1-footers—to end the quarter in front 17-10.

            The Bear Cubs outscored the Hawks 8-0 during the first four minutes of the second quarter on Taylor Iacopi's 3-pointer, Ashleigh Barr's 3-point play, and Sheriene Arikat's 2-footer off an assist from Lanie Lincoln. Gonzalez sank two free throws with 5:58 on the clock, making their deficit 12-25. Lucca Lowenberg swished a 3-pointer, and 22 seconds later Contreras sank the Hawks' only field goal of the period. The Bear Cubs then put together a 12-0 run, consisting of Lowenberg's 3-pointer on a baseline inbounds play, Ciarah Michalik's 3-pointer, two free throws by Barr, Arikat's 8-footer off Barr's assist, and two more free throws by Barr, to expand their advantage to 40-14. Annie Garrison drew a shooting foul with 37 seconds left and sank one free throw, making the Bear Cubs' halftime lead 40-15.

            Sheriene Arikat's fast break layup off of Ciarah Michalik's long lead pass started the scoring in the third quarter. Gonzalez tallied the next three points on one free throw and a field goal at the 7:09 mark. Meredith Gilbertson was fouled on a shot and made both free throws 69 seconds later. Lucca Lowenberg scored eight of the Bear Cubs' next 10 points on a 3-point play, a fast break layup, and another 3-pointer, while Michalik made a driving layup for the other two points, widening the lead to 54-18 with 3:55 on the clock. During the remainder of the period Gonzalez sank two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws. On the other end of the court Ashleigh Barr caught an alley-oop pass from Lowenberg and put the ball through the hoop without landing on the ground first, Lowenberg swished another 3-pointer, Rose Nevin sank a 4-footer, Lanie Lincoln drained a 3-pointer and then tossed in a 14-foot runner at the buzzer, putting the Bear Cubs ahead 66-26.

            Sheriene Arikat again scored the first two points of the quarter, this time on a steal and layup. Gonzalez made two free throws at the 8:30 mark. The Bear Cubs went on a 10-0 run on Arikat's drive, Ciarah Michalik's 3-pointer, Taylor Iacopi's 3-point play on a left-handed drive, and Lucca Lowenberg's putback with 6:07 on the clock. Fifty-five seconds later Garrison hit a 4-footer. Then Iacopi received the pass in the front court as the Bear Cubs broke the Hawks' press, and proceeded to drive in to make the left-handed layup. Lowenberg swished her seventh 3-pointer with 3:45 on the clock. Eighteen seconds after that, Isabel Castro made a 2-pointer. Arikat made another steal and layup, Meredith Gilbertson cut to the hoop and caught the assist pass from Lowenberg, and Arikat sank two free throws with 1:43 left. Annette Vasquez made the Hawks' final basket 20 seconds later. The Bear Cubs added five more points on Ashleigh Barr's 1-footer off of Michalik's assist and Michalik's 3-pointer off the inside-out-assist from Barr. By the end of the game, the Bear Cubs won by a final score of 94-34.

            The Bear Cubs' half-court defensive pressure forced the Hawks to commit 24 turnovers, including two shot clock violations, and make only 10 out of 43 shots (23%). Offensively, the Bear Cubs' shooting and passing improved as the game progressed. In the first quarter, the Bear Cubs made 7 out of 19 shots (37%), but by the end of the game, they had made 35 out of 80 (44%). The Bear Cubs passed for a season-high 26 assists and blocked a season-high 11 shots. Ashley Gonzalez, who leads the Big 8 Conference in scoring (22.1 ppg), led her team with 23 points.

            All eight of the Bear Cubs able to play tonight scored. Lucca Lowenberg, who made 7 out of 11 (64%) of her 3-point attempts, led the Bear Cubs with 28 points. Ashleigh Barr scored 19 points, Sheriene Arikat 16, Ciarah Michalik 12, Taylor Iacopi 8, Lanie Lincoln 5, Meredith Gilbertson 4, and Rose Nevin 2. Meredith Gilbertson was the top rebounder with a season-high 13. Ashleigh Barr pulled down 9. Rose Nevin twisted her ankle in practice the previous day, but she still worked hard to grab 9 rebounds in just 12 minutes of playing time. Ciarah Michalik passed for a season-high 9 assists, and Lanie Lincoln dished out 5. Sheriene Arikat set a season-high in steals with 7. Meredith Gilbertson blocked 6 shots.