SRJC 71, American River College 73 in OT

             For their final Big 8 contest of the season the Bear Cubs (10-15, 6-9) played host to the Beavers of American River College (16-11, 7-8). Prior to tip-off the four sophomores—Angel Bernardi, Destiny Grayer, Jenny Eggers, and Kylie Oden—were recognized for their contributions and achievements to the program alongside their families. Oden won the tip, eventually got the ball, and drove in to score. The Beavers' Jasiah Sufi drew a shooting foul on her first drive and made one of two free throws. Ninety-one seconds later she swished a 3-pointer. Just nine seconds after that Bernardi drew a shooting foul and made both free throws to tie the score at 4-4. The Beavers scored six points in a row on a 3-point play by Danielle Biggs and a 3-pointer by Sufi. The Bear Cubs were successful on their next three shot attempts—Jenny Eggers' post move, Destiny Grayer's layup, and Angel Bernardi's short shot. Meanwhile Kesler Johnson sank three free throws and Sufi another 3-pointer, making the visitors' lead 16-10 with 4:34 on the clock. During the remainder of the period the Beavers made three more field goals, including one by Biggs with three seconds left. The Bear Cubs only connected on Oden's drive and Gaby Roldan's one of two free throws to end the quarter in a 13-22 hole.

            Sufi scored first in the second quarter on one of two free throws ninety-one seconds in. After missing their opening shot, the Bear Cubs made four in a row on two drives by Oden, one by Grayer, and a baseline inbounds pass to Madeline Strom to pull within two points, 21-23, with 5:38 on the clock. Lakeshia Griffith scored the Beavers' first field goal 30 seconds later. The Bear Cubs went on a 9-0 run on Oden's drive, Grayer's 3-pointer, Bernard's two free throws, and Roldan's fast break layup with 1:51 left. Johnson made the Beavers' final point of the quarter on one of two free throws with 1:32 remaining. Oden drained her first 3-pointer 27 seconds later to complete the scoring and give the Bear Cubs a 33-26 lead at halftime.

            Kylie Oden started the third quarter with an opening 3-pointer. With 7:53 on the clock Angel Bernardi completed a 3-point play when she made her layup under pressure and sank the free throw. Sufi, who sat out most of the second quarter after picking up her third foul just two minutes in, answered with a 3-pointer. Right after Jenny Eggers scored on a post move, Biggs hit a short shot, and nearly a minute later Britta Irvine drove in along the baseline for a 43-31 lead with 5:15 on the clock. Sufi hit another 3-pointer with a defender right in front of her 27 seconds later. Oden dropped in a floater with 4:05 left, and Grayer banked in a fast break layup at the 2:49 mark to stretch their lead to 47-34. The Beavers ended the period with a 9-0 run on four free throws, one field goal, and a 3-pointer by Sufi to close the gap to 43-47.

            The Beavers tallied the first three points of the fourth quarter on three of four free throws by Biggs. Grayer scored on a drive at the 7:43 mark, and then Valerie Viramontes tied the score with a 3-point play when she drove to the hoop and the official whistled a foul on the play. On their next possession Biggs swished a 3-pointer from just outside the arc. Ten seconds later, Grayer drew a shooting foul. She made the first one but not the second. Johnson scored four unanswered points in a row on a pair of free throws and a low post basket. The Bear Cubs added the next five points in less than a minute on Bernardi's drive and Oden's 3-pointer to get within one point, 55-56. But Sufi's seventh 3-pointer stretched their lead to 59-55 at the 4:49 mark. Britta Irvine sank a 4-footer, and then Johnson made two more free throws. Grayer drove right to left across the key and put in a left-handed layup. Oden dropped in a floater to tie the score at 61 with 3:20 on the clock. During the next 62 seconds Johnson scored on a putback and Sufi on a baseline drive and underhanded flip that somehow fell through the net. Madeline Strom dropped in a 5-footer 16 seconds later, and Biggs made one free throw with 1:26 left. Bernardi's successful drive 14 seconds after that pulled the Bear Cubs within one, 65-66. With 43.4 seconds left Viramontes drew a foul call as she was dribbling outside the 3-point line. She missed the first free throw but made the second for a 2-point lead. The Bear Cubs missed their shot to tie and the Beavers rebounded. As they were bringing the ball up past half court, the Bear Cubs double-teamed the dribbler and forced her to lose the ball out of bounds with 23 seconds left. Following a timeout, the Bear Cubs inbounded from in front of their bench, and after a couple of dribbles tried to lob a pass to Oden within five feet of the basket. Oden was fouled as she caught the pass. She made both free throws to tie the score at 67 with 16.7 seconds remaining. The Beavers called a timeout and advanced the ball. Their go-ahead shot attempt missed. The Bear Cubs rebounded and called a timeout with 1.8 seconds to go. The Bear Cubs inbounded to Bernardi, but her contested shot bounced off the rim, sending the game into overtime.

            Johnson got around her defender and scored 57 seconds into the 5-minute overtime period. Oden's one-handed floater tied the score 17 seconds later. Viramontes' field goal at the 3:23 mark put her team ahead by 2. With 1:30 left, Irvine drove along the right side baseline to bank in the shot and tie the score. Biggs banked in the go-ahead field goal with 58.7 seconds remaining. Both teams missed their next shots and with 5.9 seconds to go the Bear Cubs called their final timeout to set up a play. They inbounded but were only able to toss up a fruitless attempt, as they fell to the Beavers 71-73.

            The Beavers made 22 baskets, including 8 from beyond the arc, and 21 out of 30 (70%) free throws. The Bear Cubs made 29 baskets, four of them from 3-point range, and only 9 out of 16 (56%) from the free throw line. Sufi made 7 3-pointers and ended up with 25 points. Biggs totaled 22 points, and Johnson 18, including 10 out of 12 from the free throw line.

            Kylie Oden had her fifth double-double with a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds, in addition to 4 blocks. Destiny Grayer totaled 14 points. Angel Bernardi scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Britta Irvine added 6 points, Madeline Strom and Jenny Eggers 4 each, and Gaby Roldan 3.