SRJC 57, Sierra College 63
For their Saturday game at Sierra College, the drama started before the tipoff and continued for the entire game. The contest was originally scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm with the men playing at 7:30 pm, but Sierra changed the game time to 1:00 pm. Unfortunately, no one notified the women's game officials. Efforts were made by both coaches to contact officials, but no one could arrive in time. Finally, around 1:30 pm the coaches agreed to have the men play at 3:00 pm as rescheduled and have the women play at 5:00 pm. All three officials arrived in time to start the game at the new time.
Despite starting the game by turning the ball over, the Bear Cubs (6-10, 1-3) scored the first seven points of the contest on one field goal each by Kassi Agapoff and Lizbeth Zavala and Lani Lincoln's 3-pointer at the 7:21 mark. Following their timeout, the Wolverines (12-5, 2-2) got on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer and a field goal with 4:18 on the clock to get to 5-7. The Bear Cubs tallied the next six points on Trinity Hawkins' 10-footer, her two free throws, and Kierra Johnson's putback. Two Wolverines' 3-pointers sandwiched one free throw by Kierra Johnson, making the Bear Cubs' lead 14-11 with 2:11 left. Johnson banked in two consecutive putbacks, and the Wolverines scored a field goal before Kassi Agapoff sank a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining to give the Bear Cubs a 21-13 lead.
The Wolverines scored the first point of the second quarter on a free throw nearly two minutes in. Kassi Agapoff's 3-pointer on an inbounds play and Trinity Hawkins' steal and layup with 7:22 on the clock extended the lead to 26-14. After the Wolverines added a field goal and a 3-pointer, Kierra Johnson sank a 15-footer 23 seconds before the Wolverines hit another 3-pointer to make their deficit 22-28. Trinity Hawkins' 5-footer, Hanna Morris' cut and 1-footer with 2:34 put the lead at 32-26. The Wolverines drained another 3-pointer and Hanna Morris hit a 12-footer. In the final minute of the half the Wolverines made one field goal and Hanna Morris two free throws to give the Bear Cubs a 36-31 lead.
Kassi Agapoff took the first shot of the third quarter and swished the 3-pointer. The Wolverines sank a pair of free throws a minute later, and then Lizbeth Zavala and Agapoff each scored on drives. The Wolverines countered with two 3-pointers and two free throws to close the gap to 41-43 with 5:53 on the clock. Trinity Hawkins dropped in a putback 13 seconds later. The Wolverines scored the next five points before Agapoff's fast break layup with 2:45 left got the Bear Cubs back in front 47-46. The Wolverines added one free throw and one field goal during the remainder of the quarter to assume a 49-47 lead.
In the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, Lani Lincoln dropped in a floater from five feet and Trinity Hawkins sank a 16-footer for a 51-49 lead. The Wolverines scored 8 unanswered points before Kierra Johnson drew a shooting foul with 5:34 on the clock. She made one free throw to cut the Wolverines' lead to 57-52. After a pair of Wolverines' free throws, Lani Lincoln was fouled and made one free throw to get to 53-59 with 3:32 left. Thirty-three seconds later Kierra Johnson again went to the free throw line and made just the first. The Bear Cubs were not able to score and had to foul. The Wolverines made three more free throws to stretch their lead to 62-54 with 18 seconds remaining. Kassi Agapoff scored the Bear Cubs' final points on a 3-pointer with 11 seconds to go. The Wolverines made one of two free throws two seconds later to complete the scoring in their 63-57 victory.
The Bear Cubs nearly pulled off the upset, but their 31 turnovers, especially those in the fourth quarter, opened the door for their opponents. The Bear Cubs made 22 baskets, with just 5 from beyond the arc. Although the Wolverines made 19 baskets, 10 of them were 3-pointers. The Wolverines were 15 out of 22 from the free throw line, but the Bear Cubs made only 8 out of 15. The Wolverines were playing without their leading scorer, Kailee McCarrick (24.5 ppg), who had recently suffered a concussion. When these two teams faced each other in the City College of San Francisco Tournament, the Wolverines easily defeated the Bear Cubs 94-56, helped by McCarrick's 38 points and 9 3-pointers.
Kassi Agapoff played her best game, as she registered her first double-double with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Kierra Johnson's ninth double-double was comprised of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Trinity Hawkins had her eighth double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Hanna Morris contributed 6 points and a season-high 9 rebounds. Lani Lincoln, who was closely guarded and did not get off many shots, scored 6 points and passed for 3 assists. Lizbeth Zavala's 4 points completed the scoring.