SRJC 64, Sacramento City College 49
The Bear Cubs (12-8, 3-2) spent an extra hour in traffic to take on the Sacramento City College Panthers (16-4, 4-1). The Bear Cubs got off to a great start, including an opening field goal by Niambi Saint Louis and a 3-pointer by Kerianne Noonen. The Panthers got on the scoreboard at the 8:09 mark with a field goal. Then the Bear Cubs went on a 7-0 run with field goals by Saint Louis and Vai Thompson and a 3-pointer by Jenna Dunbar. The Panthers' second basket, a 3-pointer, came with 5:48 on the clock to make the score 12-5 in favor of the visitors. Jenna Dunbar hit another 3-pointer a minute later, and Brooke Santander completed a 3-point play a minute after that. Santander scored the Bear Cubs' final points of the quarter with 1:35 remaining. After the Panthers put in their last field goal of the quarter with 1:08 left, the Bear Cubs' lead was 20-9.
Vai Thompson scored the first points of the second quarter after 1:11 of play. Niambi Saint Louis put in a shot two minutes later for a 24-9 lead. Beginning with Brooke Santander's field goal at the 3:39 mark, the Bear Cubs made 5 out of their final 7 shots in the period to go into halftime ahead 35-14.
The Bear Cubs scored first in the third quarter on a field goal by Niambi Saint Louis, but the Panthers answered with a 3-pointer. Vai Thompson, Kerianne Noonen, and Thompson again scored on the Bear Cubs' next three possessions for a 43-19 lead. The Bear Cubs made just 3 out of their next 12 shots in the quarter while the Panthers added three field goals and four free throws to put the score at 51-29 when the period ended.
The Panthers recorded the first three points of the fourth quarter before Kerianne Noonen successfully finished a drive to the basket. The Panthers responded with a 3-pointer, a field goal, and a 3-point play to cut their deficit to 40-53 at the 5:40 mark. Baskets by Zaina Depina and Niambi Saint Louis and a 3-pointer by Brooke Santander extended the lead up to 60-41 with 4:02 on the clock. The Panthers hit a 3-pointer then Saint Louis hit a close shot with 1:15 remaining. The Panthers converted a 3-point play 11 seconds later. Saint Louis put in the Bear Cubs' final shot with 28 seconds to go. Two Panther free throws with 7 seconds left completed the scoring as the Bear Cubs held onto the ball for the 64-49 win.
The Bear Cubs shot well, making 28 out of 60 shots (47%), while their defense gave the Panthers problems. The Panthers made 5 out of 27 shots (19%) in the first half, but they did turn things around in the second half making 11 out of 31 shots (35%).
Brooke Santander led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 18 points, including 3 3-pointers, in rebounds with 7, and in assists with 5. Niambi Saint Louis made 7 out of 9 shots for 14 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds. Kerianne Noonen added 11 points, Vai Thompson 8, Jenna Dunbar 6, Meme Nicolis 5, and Zaina Depina 2. Jenna Dunbar also passed for 5 assists.