Women's Basketball: Bear Cubs make a come back to beat American River

Cammie Barsulgia driving

SRJC 57, American River College 53

             Two days after driving to Sierra College, the Bear Cubs (10-12, 6-7) were back on the road making nearly an identical drive to American River College, just 13 miles south of Rocklin. The Beavers (10-14, 3-10) jumped out to an 8-0 lead during the opening 4:09. The Bear Cubs missed their first 10 shots before Cammie Barsuglia banked in a 3-pointer from straight away with 5:10 on the clock. Barsuglia drew a shooting foul 45 seconds later and made just the first free throw. The Beavers scored their final point of the quarter on a free throw with 3:41 left. Shayla Newman put in two free throws on the Bear Cubs' next possession, and Jasmine Henderson banked in a fast break layup at the 2:21 mark to complete the scoring and leave the Bear Cubs behind 8-9.

            The Beavers scored a field goal and one of two free throws in the first 30 seconds of the second quarter. Jasmine Henderson made another fast break layup with 8:03 on the clock. Following Bailey Bowen-Seay's inside shot, Maiya Flores was fouled on a drive and sank one free throw. Shayla Newman put in a short right-handed hook shot, and the Beavers hit two consecutive field goals for an 18-13 lead with 3:35 left. The Bear Cubs responded with Flores' 3-pointer and Newman's quick cut to the basket, catch, and layup in stride to tie the score. The Beavers retook the lead with a pair of free throws with 2:37 remaining. Twenty-two seconds later Lilly Orozco got open near the hoop, and turned Flores' pass into an assist. With 1:39 left, Cammie Barsuglia completed a 3-point play after her successful drive to the basket. In the final minute of the quarter Bowen-Seay sank her third field goal of the period, and Cammie Barsuglia drained a 3-pointer to give the Bear Cubs a 26-22 lead by halftime.

            Deja Samuels put in a pair of free throws 26 seconds into the third quarter. Shayla Newman scored the Bear Cubs first two points when she rolled to the basket, caught the pass from DJ Hayes, and banked in the layup with 8:24 on the clock. The Bear Cubs tallied the next three points in the contest on one free throw by Jasmine Henderson and Madeline Strom's field goal to stretch their lead to 31-24 midway through the period. The Beavers made their first basket at the 3:55 mark. DJ Hayes drove hard from the left side and made the contested layup. Lilly Orozco got open on a cut to the basket and caught Britta Irvine's assist with 2:42 left. Nearly a minute later Newman sank two free throws for a 37-26 advantage. The Beavers sank two unanswered field goals within 27 seconds. With 1:00 left Maiya Flores cut down the left side, caught the pass from Newman, and scored the layup. Miyah Williams completed a 3-point play with 32 seconds left. Britta Irvine made one of two free throws with 24 seconds to go, and Williams hit a field goal four seconds before the buzzer to cut the Bear Cubs' lead to 40-35.

            Maiya Flores scored on a back door cut just seconds into the fourth quarter. The Beavers then went on a 17-1 run, helped by Bear Cubs' turnovers, to sprint out to a 52-43 lead with 6:16 on the clock. Following a Bear Cubs' timeout Shayla Newman sank a putback with 5:30 left. Ninety-one seconds later Jasmine Henderson scored on a drive down the left side, and the next time down Britta Irvine pulled up at the free throw lime and sank the shot. Newman put back her own missed shot with 2:30 left and scored on a drive 36 seconds after that to go back in front 53-52. The Bear Cubs were called for a pushing foul while blocking out near the Beavers' basket. The shooter made the first free throw for the tie but missed the second. With 55 seconds to go DJ Hayes made the assist pass to Shayla Newman right next to the basket for a 55-53 margin. The Beavers, who were out of timeouts, took an open shot that missed the mark, and Shayla Newman collected the rebound with 31 seconds to go. The Bear Cubs worked for the last shot. The clock was stopped at 11 seconds when the Beavers knocked the ball out of bounds. The Bear Cubs called a timeout. When play resumed Britta Irvine was double-teamed and fouled with 5 seconds remaining. She sank both pressure free throws to extend the lead to 57-53. The Beavers were unable to score in the final seconds.

            The Bear Cubs only made 2 out of 17 shots (12%) in the first quarter, and were fortunate to be only behind 8-9. In the second quarter the Bear Cubs made 7 out of 15 shots (47%), including two 3-pointers and five within two feet of the hoop. Both teams scored 31 points in the second half. The Bear Cubs were 12 for 20 (60%) from the free throw line, while the Beavers made 18 out of 23 (78%). Three Beavers scored in double figures: Samuels 19, Bowen-Seay 14, and Williams 12.

            Shayla Newman posted her ninth double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Cammie Barsuglia contributed a season-high 10 points. Maiya Flores, who fouled out with 6:03 in the fourth quarter, finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Jasmine Henderson added 8 points, Britta Irvine 5, Lilly Orozco 4, and Madeline Strom and DJ Hayes 2 each. DJ Hayes led in assists with 4.