SRJC 56, Laney College 78
For the first time in program history the Bear Cubs (6-1) traveled to the Oakland campus of Laney College to face the Eagles (3-2). Both teams missed their first few shots until the Eagles sank a field goal at the 6:42 mark. Adrianne Blackwell's 3-pointer 52 seconds later put the hosts ahead 5-0. Ivy Gonzalez's drive got the Bear Cubs on the scoreboard with 5:37 on the clock. Nearly a minute passed before the Bear Cubs added two more points on two free throws by Reese Searcy. After a field goal by Leniyah Fulsome, Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer tied the score with 2:18 left. The Eagles scored five more points with a minute to go to get ahead 12-7. Maya Salas swished a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to cut the Bear Cubs' deficit to 10-12.
The Eagles sank a field goal on their first possession of the second quarter. Maya Salas took the Bear Cubs' first shot and drained another shot from beyond the arc. The Eagles responded with their own 3-pointer. After Salas hit a 12-footer off of Ivy Gonzalez's assist, the Eagles put together an 8-0 run for a 25-15 advantage at the midway point of the period. During the next three minutes Praise Nigimar made two baskets and two free throws and Lucca Lowenberg hit an 18-footer, while the Eagles added two field goals and a 3-pointer. In the final two minutes of the period, the Eagles put in two more field goals and two free throws. Lindsey Arellano dropped in an 18-footer with 45 seconds left, as the Bear Cubs found themselves in a 25-38 hole by halftime.
The Bear Cubs made three out of five shot attempts to start the third quarter—Ivy Gonzalez's 6-footer and then an 8-footer off of Lucca Lowenberg's assists and Lowenberg's drive—but the Eagles made a basket and three free throws. The Eagles then scored nine points, while the Bear Cubs committed turnovers and missed two shot attempts. Even though the Bear Cubs made five out of their next six shots—Maya Salas' 4-foot floater, JJ Martinez's layup, Salas' 2-footer, Praise Nigimar's 10-footer, and Salas' 3-pointer off an inbounds pass with 36 seconds left—the Eagles tacked on nine more points to build their lead up to 61-42.
The Bear Cubs started the fourth quarter with the ball and Lucca Lowenberg soon swished a 3-pointer. Alayah Flucus made a shot from inside the key for the Eagles. Ivy Gonzalez banked in a 2-footer off of Lowenberg's assist with 8:25 on the clock. Neither team scored again until Flucus' 3-point play at the 6:04 mark, which was followed by Jada Hunter's close shot. After Lindsey Arellano's successful drive, Hunter completed a 3-point play on a drive. Lowenberg was fouled inside and made both free throws with 4:58 left. The Eagles tallied two more field goals and a 3-pointer by Hunter to open up a 78-51 lead with 4:08 remaining. About two minutes later Meredith Gilbertson pulled down a defensive rebound and drove coast-to-coast to bank in the layup. Lowenberg's 3-pointer with 2:10 to go completed the scoring in the Bear Cubs 56-78 defeat.
The Eagles' full-court pressure and zone defense caused the Bear Cubs to turn the ball over 28 times and only get off 55 shots, making 22 of them (40%). The Eagles made 31 out of 69 shots (45%), came up with 17 steals, and only committed 6 turnovers. The Eagles outplayed, outhustled, and outshot the Bear Cubs. Four Eagles scored in double figures—Jada Hunter with 17, Alayah Flucus 13, Leniyah Fulsome 13, and Tali Fa'i 12.
Maya Salas, who had her best shooting night—3 out of 4 field goal attempts and 3 out of 4 3-point attempts—to total a season-high 15 points. Lucca Lowenberg also drained 3 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Ivy Gonzalez and Praise Nigimar each added 8 points, Lindsey Arellano 4, and JJ Martinez, Meredith Gilbertson and Reese Searcy 2 each. Meredith Gilbertson and Ivy Gonzalez each grabbed 6 rebounds. Lucca Lowenberg passed for 3 assists.