SRJC 53, Southwestern Oregon Community College 56
After six games in two tournaments in Central California, the Bear Cubs played their first home game of the season as hosts of the Caren Franci Invitational Tournament. Their opponent, the Southwestern Oregon Community College Lakers made the 500+ mile trip from Coos Bay, Oregon through the pouring rain. The visitors scored the first four points of the game before Alicia Mehtlan finally made the Bear Cubs' first basket nearly three minutes into the game. Jenna Dunbar followed up with a 3-pointer, Alicia made one of two free throws, and Niambi Saint Louis hit a jumper from the free throw line to put the Bear Cubs ahead 8-4 at the 15:03 mark. The Bear Cubs missed their next eight shots to fall behind 11-14 with nine minutes in the half. Beginning with Sarah Arteseros' field goal, the Bear Cubs made five out of their next seven shots, including two from beyond the arc by Alicia Mehtlan, to take a 23-19 lead with 5:50 remaining in the half. Two minutes later Alicia Mehtlan sank her third 3-pointer, increasing the lead to seven. Both teams added just two more field goals, and the Lakers also made two more free throws, making the halftime score 30-25.
The Bear Cubs started the second half with the ball and Jenna Dunbar scored on a pull-up jumper and was fouled then sank the free throw. On the Bear Cubs' next possession, Jenna scored again, to give them a 10-point advantage. Jenna scored their next basket, a 3-pointer, but it took over five minutes and nine Bear Cub shot attempts. Meanwhile the Lakers added eight points to their total. A 3-pointer by the Lakers with 6:28 on the clock tied the game at 46. Jenna answered with her second 3-pointer, but the Lakers matched it. The visitors took a 3-point lead at 52-49 with 2:44 remaining. Brittney Rachuy sank a shot from the baseline at the 2:28 mark. The Lakers made their next shot to go back up by three. Jenna hit the Bear Cubs' next and final shot, leaving them behind 53-54 with 1:53 left. The Lakers made their third field goal in a row to take a 56-53 lead with 90 seconds to play. The Bear Cubs turned the ball over in front of their bench. The Bear Cubs prevented their opponents from scoring again, but every time they got possession of the ball, they ended up making a turnover, never getting another chance to take a shot. The 53-56 loss drops the Bear Cubs into the Consolation bracket of their own tournament.
The Bear Cubs made only 32% (22 out of 69) of their shots, made 19 turnovers, too many at crucial points in the game, and only went to the free throw line three time (making 3 out of 5 free throws). The Lakers went to the free throw line 12 times, making 7 out of 18 free throws.
Jenna Dunbar sank three 3-pointers and led the team in scoring with 18 points. Alicia Mehtlan also hit three 3-pointers to help her total 15 points, all in the first half. Sarah Arteseros scored 8 points, Niambi Saint Louis and Brittney Rachuy 4 points each, and Amber Hart and Taylor Graham each made a single field goal. Amber Hart led in rebounding with 8. Taylor Graham, back in the lineup after missing the COS Tournament with an injury, passed for 6 assists, and Brittney Rachuy for 5. Alicia Mehtlan made 4 steals.