SRJC 72, Diablo Valley College 76 in OT
Tuesday night the Bear Cubs (6-10, 1-1) hosted the #4 team in the North, the Vikings (15-3, 2-0) of Diablo Valley College. The Bear Cubs got on the scoreboard first thanks to Zaina Depina's 3-pointer on their first possession. The Vikings quickly matched it with their own 3-pointer, then proceeded to sink their next three 2-point attempts for a 9-3 lead. Zaina Depina's second 3-pointer with 7:16 on the clock stopped the Bear Cubs' scoreless streak. The Bear Cubs missed their next five shots before making five of seven, including three by La Donna Saint Louis, but were still behind 16-18 with 2:09 left. The Vikings added one field goal and Angel Bernardi made one of two free throws, to put the Bear Cubs behind 17-20 at the end of the quarter.
Safiyyah Yasin scored the first four points on the second quarter on one of two free throws and a subsequent a 3-point play in the opening minute. The Bear Cubs scored the next four points on a drive by Zaina Depina and two free throws by Jenny Eggers. The Vikings put in two 3-pointers and Tiffany Salinas two field goals, making the Vikings' lead 30-25 at the midpoint of the period. A Viking field goal two minutes later was answered by Angel Bernardi two free throws and La Donna Saint Louis' field goal. Another Viking field goal was followed by Saint Louis' two free throws, which made their deficit 31-34 with 1:39 remaining. The Vikings made one of two free throws, and then Tiffany Salinas connected on a field goal. The Vikings scored a field goal with 24 seconds left, and Angel Bernardi finished off the scoring nine seconds later to go into halftime down by 2 points, 35-37.
The Vikings again scored the first four points to start the third quarter. Two field goals by Jenny Eggers and one by La Donna Saint Louis tied the contest at 41 with 5:40 on the clock. The Vikings went on a 7-0 run before Jenny Eggers banked in a field goal and Ashley Hart two in a row to close the gap to 47-48 with 2:05 left. Then things went the Vikings' way. Samarah Oliver drew a shooting foul and made both free throws, Yasin sank a jumper, and then one of the officials called a technical foul on the Bear Cubs' bench for inappropriate language. Oliver made both free throws with 1:09 to go, and Yasin sank another pull-up jumper with 48 seconds to go for a 56-47 lead. With the clock clicking down to the end of the period, Zaina Depina drove and drew a foul with one second remaining. She missed the first free throw but made the second.
The Vikings added a field goal first in the fourth quarter, but Angel Bernardi hit a 3-pointer and Zaina Depina a fast break layup to close to 53-58 at the 8:35 mark. The Vikings made their own 3-pointer 30 seconds later. La Donna Saint Louis banked in a layup with 6:47 on the clock, and the Vikings swished another 3-pointer 12 seconds afterward, making the gap 55-64. Tiffany Salinas scored on a putback with 5:27 left, and then Ashley Hart banked in a 1-footer two minutes later. Destiny Grayer made her only basket with 2:50 remaining, but it was a 3-pointer, which made the score 62-64. With 28 seconds showing on the clock, Hayley Louzao tied the score at 64. The Vikings ran the clock down and called a timeout with 10 seconds to go. They inbounded but were unable to score, sending the game into overtime.
In the 5-minute overtime period, La Donna Saint Louis was the first to score--on an inbounds play 28 seconds in. The Vikings tied it up with two free throws by Seuvahnia Kuka 15 seconds later. Two minutes after that, Yasin sank her ninth field goal of the game. Tiffany Salinas drove to the hoop from 40 feet out, and in her hustle after the rebound couldn't stop in time to not get called for her fifth foul. Kuka made both free throws to increase their margin to 70-66 with 2:01 on the clock. Twelve seconds later Zaina Depina scored on a layup having driven through full court pressure. The Vikings took advantage of a Bear Cubs' defensive mistake and found Kuka wide open near the basket for an easy two with 1:25 to go for a 72-68 lead. Just four seconds later Jenny Eggers caught a pass from Destiny Grayer near the basket and scored. She was fouled on the play and made the free throw to get to 71-72. With one minute remaining, Kuka swished a huge 3-pointer to extend their lead to 75-71. Zaina Depina drew a foul 10 seconds later. She missed the first free throw and made the second. The Vikings missed their next shot attempt and Jenny Eggers rebounded then called a timeout with 36 seconds on the clock. The Bear Cubs made a couple of passes, then a bad one that was intercepted. The Bear Cubs fouled with 20 seconds left and were fortunate that the shooter missed both free throws. Jenny Eggers again rebounded and called their last timeout. Unfortunately, the Bear Cubs again turned the ball over on a traveling call. The Bear Cubs fouled Yasin with 7 seconds remaining. She missed the first but made the second. The Bear Cubs had one last attempt at scoring but passed the ball out of bounds. The Vikings inbounded and ran out the clock on a 76-72 win.
The Bear Cubs again lost a close game due to missed free throws and turnovers. The Bear Cubs were whistled for 31 fouls. Sadie Irvine fouled out at the 6:09 mark in the fourth quarter on an offensive foul. The Vikings' foul count was 21. The Vikings made 15 out of 25 free throws (60%), but the Bear Cubs only made 10 out of 20 (50%). The Bear Cubs committed 27 turnovers.
Five Vikings scored in double figures: Safiyyah Yasin 20, Doris Jones 17, Samarah Oliver 15, Seuvahnia Kuka 11, and Deja Johnson-Ford 11.
La Donna Saint Louis led the Bear Cubs with 16 points. Zaina Depina and Jenny Eggers recorded season highs with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Angel Bernardi and Tiffany Salinas each scored 8 points, Ashley Hart 6, Destiny Grayer 3, and Madison Barsuglia and Hayley Louzao 2 each. Tiffany Salinas was top rebounder with 13. Jenny Eggers' 10 rebounds marked her first double-double of the season. La Donna Saint Louis pulled down 8 missed shots. Sadie Irvine and Madison Barsuglia each passed for 3 assists and made 3 steals.