SRJC 79, Feather River Golden Eagles 44
On the afternoon before Thanksgiving, the Bear Cubs (5-0) hosted the Feather River College Golden Eagles (5-3). Lucca Lowenberg swished a 3-pointer nine seconds into the game. After two missed shots, the Bear Cubs made two 3-pointers in a row—the first by Reese Searcy and the second by Ciarah Michalik—for a 9-0 lead, which prompted a Feather River timeout at the 7:47 mark. When play resumed, the Golden Eagles missed their shot attempt and then Ashleigh Barr hit a 12-footer. Megan Donnelly scored the next four points on a pair of free throws and a field goal with 5:46 on the clock. During the remainder of the period, the Golden Eagles added three more field goals, while the Bear Cubs made their next five shots in a row—Sheriene Arikat's 10-footer, Lanie Lincoln's 9-footer, Searcy's left-handed driving layup, Arikat's 14-footer, and Alex Ditizio's 1-footer after cutting and catching Arikat's assist next to the hoop—as the Bear Cubs built up a 24-10 lead by the end of the quarter.
Lucca Lowenberg scored the first point of the second quarter on one free throw, and then Megan Donnelly made a basket. Ciarah Michalik drove in and tossed in the ball from the middle of the key, as the first of five out of seven made shots by the Bear Cubs, which was followed by Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer, Ashleigh Barr's 3-pointer, Barr's 6-footer, and Lanie Lincoln's 3-pointer for a 58-16 advantage with 3:51 on the clock. The Golden Eagles made two more field goals and three free throws while Marlana Sawyer, Barr, and Lowenberg each made one 2-pointer to make the score at halftime 44-23.
Post player Meredith Gilbertson drove in from outside the key and banked in the layup to start the scoring in the third quarter. A little under two minutes later, the Golden Eagles' post player Margaret Canseco-Rodriquez scored from the low post. Then Ashleigh Barr hit a 2-footer off an assist from Lucca Lowenberg. The Bear Cubs added four points on consecutive free throws by Gilbertson and Ciarah Michalik before Kylee Cox swished a long 3-pointer. Lucca Lowenberg drove to the hoop to score. Alyssa Barnard drew a shooting foul and made both free throws. Over a minute later Rose Nevin was fouled trying to shoot near the basket and made one free throw. During the last two minutes of the quarter, Cox sank a field goal, Sheriene Arikat made two free throws, Cox drained a 3-pointer, Donnelly made a basket, and Reese Searcy intercepted a pass and sank the layup before the buzzer sounded, ending the period with the Bear Cubs in front 62-37.
The Bear Cubs started the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run, which included two free throws by Ciarah Michalik, her drive and one-hander from 6 feet out, and Reese Searcy's scoring drive. Natalie Richards recorded the Golden Eagles' first basket of the period with 7:28 on the clock. Sheriene Arikat hit a 4-footer and Ashleigh Barr a 10-footer before the Golden Eagles added two points on a pair of free throws. With four seconds on the shot clock and the Bear Cubs inbounding the ball from the baseline, Meredith Gilbertson cut to the basket from the high post and caught the assist pass from Lanie Lincoln with 4:17 left. Maleika Ashe made one free throw 74 seconds later. Meredith Gilbertson pulled down an offensive rebound and put back the follow up shot with 1:33 left. Thirty seconds later Taylor Iacopi tallied the Bear Cubs' final points on a 3-pointer. Erin Mitchell scored the Golden Eagles' last two points on a field goal. The Bear Cubs dribbled out the clock on their 79-44 victory.
The Bear Cubs had their most efficient shooting night as they made 48% (29 out of 60) of their shot attempts. In the first quarter they made 60% (9 out of 15) of them. Their defensive pressure disrupted the Golden Eagles' offense, which came into the game averaging nearly 71 points per game. Megan Donnelly led all scorers with 14 points, while Kylee Cox contributed 10 points.
For the first time this season all 11 of the Bear Cubs scored. They were led by Ashleigh Barr's third double-double of 13 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. The other four Bear Cub starters—Reese Searcy, Ciarah Michalik, Lucca Lowenberg, and Meredith Gilbertson—each scored 11 points. Sheriene Arikat added 8 points, Lanie Lincoln 5, Taylor Iacopi 3, and Marlana Sawyer, Alex Ditizio, and Rose Nevin 2 each. Ciarah Michalik passed for 5 assists.