SRJC 80, Feather River College 52
After three games in a row in the Central Valley last week, the Bear Cubs (4-1) were glad to host a game in Haehl Pavilion Friday night. Their opponents, the Golden Eagles (2-3) of Feather River College, made the long drive from Quincy with only five players available to see action, as the other three on the roster were out with injuries. Reese Searcy scored the first two points of the contest on a drive 66 seconds into the contest. Both teams committed numerous turnovers and missed shots. Khalilah Corley got the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard with one free throw at the 6:09 mark. Nineteen seconds later Ivy Gonzalez hit a 15-footer from the wing to break the ice for the Bear Cubs. Gonzalez's 2-footer off of Lindsey Arellano's assist was followed 80 seconds later by Searcy's successful drive for an 8-1 lead. Corley tallied the Golden Eagles' first basket on a drive with 2:58 on the clock. Praise Nigimar sank a 20-footer, and then Gonzalez turned a steal near the Golden Eagles' free throw line into a layup on her end to widen the lead to 12-3 with 2:02 left. In the remaining time, the Golden Eagles put in two more field goals, while Maya Salas and Lindsey Arellano drained back-to-back 3-pointers, making the score 18-7.
The Golden Eagles started the second quarter with the ball and Sierra Dixson dropped in a 3-pointer. The Bear Cubs missed their first four shots before Hannah Webb drove from the wing and banked in a 5-footer. Emilie Tierney recorded her team's next seven points, while only Cece Solano scored on 2-footer on a cut and assist from Hannah Webb. Khalilah Corley's 3-pointer with 5:27 on the clock pulled the Golden Eagles within two at 20-22. After two scoreless minutes, Meredith Gilbertson was successful on a drive between defenders. Following a Golden Eagle miss, Reese Searcy caught the outlet pass and drove the rest of the way down to bank in the layup. Corley's 3-point play on a drive with 2:39 left completed the Golden Eagles' scoring in the period. The Bear Cubs added eight more points on Ivy Gonzalez's 3-pointer, Searcy's layup, and Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer for a 34-23 halftime lead.
The Bear Cubs scored the first seven points of the third quarter on Meredith Gilbertson's 1-footer off of Ivy Gonzalez's assist, two free throws by Gonzalez, and Gonzalez's 3-pointer. Khalilah Corley got the Golden Eagles' scoring started at the 6:45 mark. The Bear Cubs made six shots in a row—Meredith Gilbertson's two low post moves, Lucca Lowenberg's drive, Praise Nigimar's drive, JJ Martinez's 3-pointer, and Maya Salas's defensive rebound and coast-to-coast layup—while the Golden Eagles added three field goals for a 54-31 score with 3:00 left. In the final three minutes, the visitors added six more points, and Abby Sanchez drove from the wing into the middle of the key and tossed in the one-handed 4-footer giving the Bear Cubs a 56-37 advantage.
Abby Sanchez took the first shot of the fourth quarter and swished the 3-pointer. About a minute later, Cece Solano was the trailer on a Bear Cub fast break and converted the layup off of Reese Searcy's assist pass. Sierra Dixson tallied the Golden Eagles' first two points of the period on a pair of free throws at the 8:09 mark. After Reese Searcy's 3-pointer, Dixson banked in a 15-footer with 7:25 on the clock. The Bear Cubs scored 11 unanswered points on Ivy Gonzalez's left-handed drive, one free throw each by Lindsey Arellano and Meredith Gilbertson, Lucca Lowenberg's 3-point play on a left side drive, Ivy Gonzalez's putback, and Praise Nigimar's drive from the high post with 2:53 left. Corley put in the next seven points on two consecutive trips to the free throw line and a 3-pointer with 1:40 remaining. JJ Martinez hit a baseline 3-pointer, and then Corley scored on a drive. With 38 seconds to go Praise Nigimar passed to a cutting Abby Sanchez who banked in the 2-footer. Corley finished the scoring 10 seconds later. The Bear Cubs dribbled out the clock on their 80-52 victory.
The Bear Cubs got off to a slow start, including committing five turnovers in the first four minutes, but they eventually made 7 out of 11 shots to finish out the first quarter and take an 18-7 lead. By the end of the game, the Bear Cubs had made 51% of their shot attempts (33 out of 65). Every player on both teams scored. Khalilah Corley, who was nearly impossible to stop, was the top scorer with 31 points.
Ivy Gonzalez led the Bear Cubs with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Reese Searcy also scored in double figures with 11. Meredith Gilbertson added 9 points, Lucca Lowenberg 8, Abby Sanchez 7, JJ Martinez and Praise Nigimar 6 each, Maya Salas 5, Lindsey Arellano and Cece Solano 4 each, and Hannah Webb 2. Lindsey Arellano was second in rebounding with 6. Reese Searcy and Hannah Webb each passed for 3 assists. Webb had 3 steals.