SRJC 81, Folsom Lake College 71 in overtime
The Bear Cubs (8-4) opened Big 8 Conference play by hosting the Folsom Lake College Falcons (8-4). The Falcons won the tipoff and quickly, after one pass, converted an easy layup. Then they intercepted a pass and again sank another easy layup. The Bear Cubs scored eight unanswered points on two free throws by Hannah Webb, Ivy Gonzalez's short turnaround jumper and putback, and Reese Searcy's drive at the 6:28 mark. After Emily Ko made two free throws, Lucca Lowenberg did the same, and then so did Livi Fernandez. Ashleigh Briggs' field goal with 2:12 on the clock tied the score at 10-10. Lindsey Arellano's layup temporarily put the Bear Cubs back in front. Briggs' basket with 1:30 left tied the score again. Ivy Gonzalez's 15-footer with 25 seconds remaining gave the Bear Cubs a 14-12 lead by the end of the period.
The Falcons made four 3-pointers in the first 5:23 of the second quarter. Meanwhile the Bear Cubs missed their first three shots before Ivy Gonzalez dropped in a 2-footer at the end of a drive, and Reese Searcy drained a 3-pointer. Meredith Gilbertson's two free throws at the 5:01 mark got the Bear Cubs within three at 21-24. Searcy made one of two free throws, and Gilbertson sank both of hers to tie the score. The Falcons added a field goal, two free throws, and a 3-pointer by Emily Ko with 2:24 left for a 31-24 advantage. Lucca Lowenberg scored the final two points of the quarter on a 4-foot pull-up jumper, making the Bear Cubs' deficit 26-31 by halftime.
Jadyn Weaver started the scoring in the third quarter with her second 3-pointer of the contest. Reese Searcy drew a shooting foul and made one free throw. The Falcons scored two more field goals to widen their lead to 38-27 with 7:11 on the clock. During the next two minutes Lucca Lowenberg made a steal and scored the layup, made a back door cut and caught the assist pass from Meredith Gilbertson, hit an 8-footer, and made another steal and layup to close the gap to 35-38 at the 5:02 mark. After Alysa Lopez sank a field goal, Lowenberg swished a 3-pointer. The Bear Cubs made all five of their final shots in the quarter—Gilbertson's low post move, Lowenberg's 5-footer, Lindsey Arellano's one-handed 4-footer, Gilbertson's drive, and Lowenberg's 10-foot pull-up jumper—but the Falcons also tallied 10 points for a 51-48 margin with 1:08 remaining. Reese Searcy drew a foul on a drive with two seconds left. She missed the first but made the second to get the Bear Cubs to 49-51.
Emily Ko scored the first field goal of the fourth quarter. Seventeen seconds later Maya Salas drove between defenders to sink the layup. Reese Searcy drew a shooting foul and again made just one free throw. Courtney Harrison caught the ball in front of the hoop and was able to score at the 8:33 mark for a 55-52 lead. After Ivy Gonzalez dropped in a 2-footer, Alysa Lopez was fouled and made both free throws. Livi Fernandez's basket with 7:25 on the clock made their lead 59-54. The Bear Cubs put together a 10-0 run comprised of Searcy's drive, Meredith Gilbertson's 1-footer off of Lucca Lowenberg's assist, Gonzalez's 5-foot fall-away shot, two free throws by Gilbertson, and JJ Martinez's reverse layup while falling to the floor, to vault in front 64-59 with 2:55 left. Harrison made a basket, and 25 seconds later Gilbertson passed cross court to Lowenberg, who drained a 3-pointer for a 67-61 lead. Jadyn Weaver swished her fourth 3-pointer 19 seconds after that. The Bear Cubs called a timeout with 50 seconds on the clock. After running the clock down, a bad pass led to a fumble and turnover. Lopez got near the hoop for a shot, missed, but go her own rebound. She scored the putback while drawing a foul. Her and-one free throw with 17 seconds to go tied the score at 67. Neither team scored again, sending the game into overtime.
The Falcons won the tipoff but soon Lucca Lowenberg turned to double-down on the opponent with the ball and forced a held ball call. The Bear Cubs were awarded the ball and Meredith Gilbertson scored on a low post move. The Bear Cubs missed their next three shot attempts before making two in a row—Lowenberg's 3-pointer and Reese Searcy's 3-point play drive—to jump ahead 75-67 with 2:08 on the clock. Livi Fernandez drew a shooting foul 12 seconds later. She made the first but missed the second free throw. Then Lowenberg dropped in her fourth 3-pointer for a 78-68 lead. Following a Falcons missed shot, Lowenberg was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1:12 left. She made all three free throws for an 81-68 advantage. Jadyn Weaver completed the scoring with her fourth 3-pointer, making the final score 81-71.
This was an entertaining game for the spectators due to its competitive nature. The Bear Cubs outhustled the Falcons during the 5-minute overtime period. They forced the visitors to commit four turnovers, including one offensive foul. On offense the Bear Cubs pushed the ball and made four out of eight shots while the Falcons made only one out of five. The Bear Cub post players held the Falcons' leading scorer, Corrie Harrison, who came into the game averaging 17.1 ppg, to 8 points. Four Falcons scored in double figures: Alysa Lopez 13, Emily Ko and Jadyn Weaver 12 each, and Livi Fernandez 10.
Lucca Lowenberg led the Bear Cubs with her season-high of 31 points after only scoring 4 in the first half. Meredith Gilbertson and Reese Searcy each scored 14 points and Ivy Gonzalez 12. Lindsey Arellano added 4 points; JJ Martinez, Maya Salas, and Hannah Webb 2 each. Ivy Gonzalez pulled down 9 rebounds and Reese Searcy 8. Meredith Gilbertson grabbed 7 rebounds, made 5 steals, and blocked 4 shots. Lucca Lowenberg had 7 steals and Reese Searcy 4.