SRJC 74, Chabot College 47
The Bear Cubs got their 2022-2023 season off to a good start with a 74-47 victory on the road at Chabot College of Hayward. Kelly Tumlin scored the first points of the season for the host Gladiators when she swished a long 3-pointer. Less than 30 seconds later, Reese Searcy's drive past two defenders put the Bear Cubs on the scoreboard. After three missed shots, the Bear Cubs made three in a row—Lucca Lowenberg's putback, her 3-pointer, and Ashleigh Barr's 2-footer—for a 9-3 lead, prompting the Chabot coach to call a timeout. When play resumed, Tumlin sank a field goal. Reese Searcy was fouled on a drive and made both free throws. The Gladiators scored the next three points on one of two free throws and a field goal to close the gap to 8-11. Rose Nevin's putback followed by consecutive 3-pointers by Lanie Lincoln and Lowenberg, and Barr's 12-footer widened the Bear Cubs' lead to 21-10 with 1:30 on the clock. During the final 90 seconds of the period, Tumlin added two free throws, and Lowenberg banked in a short putback, giving the Bear Cubs a 23-12 lead.
The Gladiators tallied the first four points of the second quarter on a pair of free throws and a post move. Ciarah Michalik drained a 3-pointer 20 seconds later. Ashleigh Barr's baseline 5-footer and her putback the next time down increased the margin to 30-17. The Bear Cubs made five shots in a row—two 3-pointers by Lucca Lowenberg, one 3-pointer and a drive by Reese Searcy, and Barr's 12-footer—for a 43-25 lead with 2:55 left on the clock. Searcy made one of two free throws with four seconds left to put the Bear Cubs in front 44-25 by halftime.
Kelly Tumlin hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring in the third quarter. Ciarah Michalik scored on a drive over a minute later. During the next four minutes Lucca Lowenberg hit a 4-footer, Ashleigh Barr swished a 10-footer and two short shots, Rose Nevin banked in a 2-footer, and Sheriene Arikat sank an 11-footer for a 58-31 advantage. During the remainder of the period Barr banked in a 1-footer and Arikat made one of two free throws, while Chabot added three free throws and a Tumlin 3-pointer to put the score at 61-37.
The Gladiators intercepted a Bear Cub pass and turned it into an easy layup to start the fourth quarter scoring. Ashleigh Barr sank a 12-footer then a 3-footer off an assist pass from Ciarah Michalik. Dede Franklin drained a 3-pointer for the hosts and Kelly Tumlin a field goal with 6:53 on the clock. Nearly three minutes later, Rose Nevin grabbed an offensive rebound, pump-faked, and banked in the putback. Tumlin scored the Gladiators' final basket with 2:34 remaining. But the Bear Cubs weren't done. Post player Meredith Gilbertson scored on a drive from the wing, Sheriene Arikat banked in a putback, and Marlana Sawyer hit a 3-pointer from the left wing. The Gladiators made one free throw to put the final score at 74-47.
Even though the Bear Cubs only have one post player over 5'9", they still held the height advantage over their opponents. The Bear Cubs pulled down 23 offensive rebounds and converted on seven of the second chances. The Gladiators only grabbed 7 offensive rebounds. The Bear Cubs made 7 out of 11 3-point attempts in the first half, but only connected on 1 out of 11 in the second half. The Gladiators finished with 5 3-pointers, three of them by Tumlin, who led her team in scoring with 21 points.
Ashleigh Barr recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Lucca Lowenberg sank four 3-pointers and two putbacks on her way to totaling 18 points. Reese Searcy scored 10 points and passed for 5 assists. Rose Nevin added 6 points, Ciarah Michalik and Sheriene Arikat 5 each, Lanie Lincoln and Marlana Sawyer 3 each, and Meredith Gilbertson 2. Arikat was second in rebounding with 9. Michalik led in assists with 6.