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Santa Rosa Junior College Athletics

Women's Basketball: Defending state champs too much for Bear Cubs

Women's Basketball: Defending state champs too much for Bear Cubs

SRJC 44, Mt. San Antonio College 63

 

            In the winner's bracket game at the College of the Sequoias Tournament, the Bear Cubs (1-2) had to face the Mounties of Mt. San Antonio College (7-1), who are the defending State Champions. Tiffany Salinas scored the first two points of the contest on a field goal after 68 seconds of play. The Mounties tied the score 28 seconds later, then took a 4-2 lead two minutes after that. A field goal each by Tiffany Salinas and Ashley Hart, plus one free throw by Angel Bernardi put the Bear Cubs in the lead 7-4 with 3:46 on the clock. The Mounties converted a 3-point play with just under three minutes left and followed it with a field goal 35 seconds later, moving them in front 9-8. The Bear Cubs made all of their three final field goal attempts for a 14-9 lead with 29 seconds left. But the Mounties hit an uncontested 3-pointer just before the quarter-ending buzzer sounded, making the score 14-12.

            The Mounties drew a shooting foul on their first possession of the second quarter, making one free throw, then they didn't score again until they made one free throw with 7:18 on the clock. Their field goal at the 6:48 mark put them ahead 16-14. La Donna Saint Louis drew a shooting foul and made both free throws to tie the score. Back-to-back field goals by Sadie Irvine and Saint Louis put the Bear Cubs up 20-16 with 5:18 remaining. Then the Bear Cubs' offense went cold and committed turnovers resulting in easy baskets for their opponents. The Mounties surged out to a 31-20 advantage. The Bear Cubs finally added a single point on Zaina Depina's free throw with 41 second left, to go into halftime behind 21-31.

            As in the previous quarter, the Mounties drew a shooting foul on their first possession of the third period and sank one free throw. Nearly two minutes later they scored the first field goal of the quarter. Zaina Depina's successful drive at the 7:20 mark made the score 23-34. The Mounties countered with two 3-pointers and two field goals before Ashley Hart's field goal made the score 25-44. Both teams scored seven more points in the remaining minutes until the Mounties hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded to take a commanding 54-32 lead.

            Zaina Depina sank a single free throw 65 seconds into the final quarter. Sadie Irvine hit two pull-up jumpers in the next 71 seconds to cut the deficit to 37-54. Then the Mounties made two field goals in a row. Depina again made one of two free throws, and Angel Bernardi banked in a drive as she was falling to the floor, making the score 40-58 with 4:51 to play. The Bear Cubs only managed to make two more field goals, while their opponents added three free throws and a field goal. The 44-63 loss means the Bear Cubs play an elimination game tomorrow against fellow Big 8 Conference member San Joaquin Delta College.

            Both teams made about the same percentage of their shots, but the Mounties were able to take 16 more. They made 24 out of 60 (40%). The Bear Cubs made 18 out of 44 (40.9%). The Bear Cubs committed 32 turnovers, four of them leading directly to lay-ups by their opponents.

            Sadie Irvine led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 11 points. Tiffany Salinas scored 8 points and grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds. Ashley Hart and La Donna Saint Louis each tallied 6 points. Zaina Depina added 5 points, Angel Bernardi and Meme Nicolis 3 each, and Madison Barsuglia 2. Point guard Depina pulled down 6 rebounds.