SRJC 48, San Joaquin Delta 75
The Bear Cubs (17-3, 7-1) opened the second round of Big 8 play in Stockton against the Mustangs (16-4, 7-1) of San Joaquin Delta College. Three days earlier in Folsom the Mustangs created a 3-way tie for first place in the Big 8 by defeating the top team in the North, the Falcons (18-2, 7-1), by a score of 75-74.
Jordan Washington scored the first four points of the contest on a pair of free throws and a drive two possessions later. Aaliyah Youngblood drained a 3-pointer 15 seconds after that. Kaia Eubanks banked in a 1-footer after catching Abby Tacla's lob pass over the defender. The Mustangs took an 8-6 lead on Youngblood's steal and layup and Fajr Cuthbertson's 3-pointer at the 7:00 mark. Eubanks' 14-footer off of Caitlin Baldwin's assist tied the score 22 seconds later. The Mustangs scored seven unanswered points on Isabella Azzolino's 3-pointer and two field goals by Cuthbertson for a 15-8 margin with 5:08 on the clock. During the remainder of the period, the Bear Cubs added five points on one free throw by Elle Picard and two drives by Washington. The Mustangs tallied six points on a field goal by Youngblood, one free throw by La Ne' Dunn, and a 3-pointer by Jakayla Gilmer to stretch their lead to 21-13.
Jordan Washington started the scoring in the second quarter on a cut to the hoop and assist from Elle Picard. Marcelina Chaparro drew a shooting foul and made both free throws. After nearly three scoreless minutes, Kaia Eubanks was fouled on a shot attempt and sank two free throws. Sydney Martin's 3-pointer at the 5:50 mark cut the Bear Cubs' deficit to 20-23. La Ne' Dunn made two field goals in a row and Jakayla Gilmer one free throw before Jordan Washington's drive and spin move with 4:10 on the clock. Chaparro sank a basket on the Mustangs' next possession. Washington hit an 8-footer and Abby Tacla two free throws with 1:40 left. Sixteen seconds later Dunn's two free throws completed the Mustangs' scoring in the period. The Bear Cubs added three points when Shasta Vlasak made her first free throw, her second bounced off the rim, but Washington grabbed the offensive rebound and scored the putback to end the half behind 29-32.
The Mustangs scored the first two field goals of the third quarter. Kaia Eubanks banked in a 2-footer off of Elle Picard's assist. Aaliyah Youngblood made two free throws; Eubanks pulled down an offensive rebound and dropped in the putback; and Jordan Washington blocked a shot, grabbed the loose ball out of the air, and dribbled downcourt to score the layup with 7:48 on the clock. The Mustangs called a timeout with their lead at 38-35. In the next minute Janay Holmes made a field goal, and Kaia Eubanks was successful on a low post spin move. After a basket by Youngblood, Kaia Eubanks scored the Bear Cubs' last two points of the period on a 1-footer off of Elle Picard's assist with 5:02 remaining and the score 39-42. The Mustangs finished the quarter with four field goals and four free throws by La Ne' Dunn to sprint out to a 54-39 lead by the end of the period.
Kaia Eubanks tossed in a hook shot from four feet in front of the hoop on the Bear Cubs' first time with the ball in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs went on a 15-0 run for a 69-41 margin at the 4:30 mark. Jordan Washington hit a 2-footer 31 seconds later. The Mustangs added six free throws in the final minutes, while the Bear Cubs put in five points on Amanda Hart's 3-pointer and Hattie Piper's two free throws. The Mustangs' final margin of victory was 75-48.
The Mustangs were too quick, too athletic, and too deep for the Bear Cubs to handle defensively and attack with any consistency on offense. The Mustangs made 24 shots out of 60 (40%), including six 3-pointers. They attempted 30 free throws, making 21 of them (70%). They only committed 9 turnovers to the Bear Cubs' 25, which limited the visitors to 18 made shots out of 58 attempts (31%), including 2 out of 16 3-pointers. The Bear Cubs only got to take 16 free throws and made 10 of them (63%). Ten Mustangs scored with three of them reaching double figures: Aaliyah Youngblood with 21, Jakayla Gilmer 16, and La Ne' Dunn 15.
Jordan Washington led the Bear Cubs with her 13th double-double of 20 points on 9 out of 12 shots and a season-high 18 rebounds. Kaia Eubanks finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Sydney Martin and Amanda Hart each added 3 points, Hattie Piper and Abby Tacla 2 each, and Elle Picard and Shasta Vlasak 1 each. Sydney Martin was second in rebounding with 6. Elle Picard passed for 3 assists. Jordan Washington blocked 5 shots.