SRJC 56, Solano College 49
Saturday evening the Bear Cubs (6-2) hosted the Falcons (6-5) of Solano College. Ivy Gonzalez scored the first two points of the contest on a hard drive from the high post down the left side of the key. Just 12 seconds later Julia Wright swished a long 3-pointer from above the free throw circle. The Bear Cubs tallied seven unanswered points on Meredith Gilbertson's 1-footer off of Reese Searcy's assist, Searcy's 3-pointer, and Gilbertson's 2-footer on a low post move for a 9-3 lead with 6:27 on the clock. The Falcons responded with their own 7-0 run on a 3-pointer by Macie Wilcox and four free throws by Alliyah Hayes to take a 10-9 lead with 3:52 left. During the final two minutes, Gonzalez sank four close shots in a row, the last three off of assists from Gilbertson, to jump out in front 17-10.
Julia Wright swished another long 3-pointer to start the scoring in the second quarter. The Bear Cubs went on a 13-0 run on five shots in a row—Ivy Gonzalez's putback, her 2-footer off of JJ Martinez's assist, Meredith Gilbertson's 15-footer off a baseline inbounds pass from Martinez, Martinez's drive, Gilbertson's steal then outlet to Martinez and getting the return pass before sinking an 18-footer, and Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer—for a 30-13 advantage with 4:57 on the clock. The Falcons then turned the tables on their hosts by scoring the final nine points of the period to cut the Bear Cubs' lead to 30-22 by halftime.
Meredith Gilbertson scored the first three points of the third quarter on a putback 3-point play. Macie Wilcox sank a field goal right after that. Ivy Gonzalez got open inside and sank the 1-footer off of Reese Searcy's assist. Then the Falcons made two baskets in a row to get to 28-35. Gonzalez hit a 2-footer off another assist from Searcy with 5:56 on the clock. With 4:18 left Ale Ibarra pulled down an offensive rebound and banked in the putback. At the 2:53 mark Lucca Lowenberg completed a 3-point play on a drive from the left wing. The Falcons added one free throw and a field goal with 1:25 to go. In the remaining time Gilbertson made one of two free throws and so did Lindsey Arellano for a 42-33 lead.
The Falcons were the first to score in the fourth quarter on an Amari Mason layup. The Bear Cubs made three shots in a row—Ivy Gonzalez's 12-footer, Reese Searcy's 3-point play on a drive, and Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer—for a 50-35 margin with 7:58 on the clock. The Falcons countered with a 3-pointer by Macie Wilcox, a drive by Jade Dickson, and a putback by Ale Ibarra to close the gap to 42-50 at the 5:34 mark. Thirty-six seconds later Hannah Webb put in the Bear Cubs' final field goal on a fast break basket after grabbing the defensive rebound, dribbling 2-on-1 down to the right wing, passing to Lowenberg on the left, and getting the return pass next to the hoop. With 4:34 left Mason drained a 3-pointer, and 53 seconds later Ibarra banked in her third putback, making their deficit 47-52. During the next two minutes, the Falcons went scoreless, while Reese Searcy made one free throw as did JJ Martinez. Mason scored the Falcons' last basket with 57 seconds remaining. The Falcons were forced to foul. Martinez, who had missed one free throw a minute earlier, went to the line with 41 seconds to go. She sank both to give the Bear Cubs a little breathing room at 56-49. Neither team scored again, so the Bear Cubs were able to dribble out the clock on their 56-49 victory.
The Bear Cubs' offense struggled at times against the Falcons' zone defense and full court pressure, as they committed 21 turnovers and made only 39%of their shots (23 out of 59). But their defense held the Falcons to 16 points below their average of 65 points per game and limited their leading scorer, Julia Wright, to 6 points, all in the first half. Two Falcons scored in double figures: Amari Mason with 13 and Macie Wilcox 12.
The Bear Cubs were led by Ivy Gonzalez, who registered her fourth double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Meredith Gilbertson scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Lucca Lowenberg added 9 points, Reese Searcy 7, JJ Martinez 5, Hannah Webb 2, and Lindsey Arellano 1. Meredith Gilbertson passed for 5 assists. Reese Searcy made 3 assists and 3 steals.