SRJC 52, Cosumnes River College 59
The Bear Cubs (10-5, 2-1) were on the road for a Saturday evening contest in Sacramento against the talented (and taller) Hawks (14-1, 3-0) of Cosumnes River College. Saray White scored the first basket after just 26 seconds, and Ivy Gonzalez sank a 14-foot pull-up jumper 20 seconds later. Meredith Gilbertson banked in a 1-footer on a baseline inbounds pass from Hannah Webb at the 8:42 mark. The Hawks put in two field goals before Gilbertson dropped in a reverse layup with 6:40 on the clock to tie the score. Ashley Gonzalez drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and sank all three free throws. Reese Searcy banked in a 1-footer on a baseline inbounds pass from Lindsey Arellano. Karisma Gunn-Briggs' putback was followed by Gilbertson's two free throws. After LaKayla Hale's field goal, Gilbertson's 3-point play on a putback tied the score at 13-13 with 2:52 left. Saray White converted her own 3-point play, and then Lucca Lowenberg swished a 3-pointer. Ashley Gonzalez made a field goal, and seven seconds later Gilbertson put in two more free throws. Amirah Rode-McKissack drained a 3-pointer to give the Hawks a 21-18 lead by the end of the period.
Ashley Gonzalez swished a 3-pointer to start the scoring in the second quarter. Ivy Gonzalez sank a 15-footer and a 5-footer at the 5:55 mark to get to 22-24. Amirah Rode-McKissack hit a field goal 23 seconds later. Ivy Gonzalez scored the Bear Cubs' final points of the period on a 3-pointer with 4:50 on the clock to close the gap to 25-26. Karisma Gunn-Briggs made two baskets, including a putback, in the last 1:43 for a 30-15 halftime lead.
Nearly two minutes into the third quarter, Meredith Gilbertson drew another shooting foul and made both free throws. After Saray White sank two free throws, Ivy Gonzalez swished another 3-pointer to pull within two, 30-32, at the 7:24 mark. Karisma Gunn-Briggs banked in a close shot, and then Reese Searcy was fouled on a drive. She made one free throw with 6:36 on the clock to get to 31-34. After the Hawks put in four free throws, Lucca Lowenberg swished a 3-pointer. Amirah Rode-McKissack made a basket, and a minute later Lowenberg put in a reverse layup off a baseline inbounds pass from JJ Martinez. LaKayla Hale's field goal with 2:48 left gave the Hawks a 42-36 margin. The Bear Cubs ended the period with five unanswered points on Ivy Gonzalez's 10-footer, one free throw by Praise Nigimar, and two free throws by Ivy Gonzalez, making their deficit 41-42.
Saray White made the first field goal of the fourth quarter after 95 seconds of play. Lindsey Arellano dropped in a high-arcing 22-footer 17 seconds later. The Hawks went on a 7-0 run before Lucca Lowenberg's 1-footer on a baseline inbounds pass from JJ Martinez with 5:08 on the clock, making the score 45-51. Praise Nigimar was fouled on a shot their next time down and made one free throw. White drained a 3-pointer at the 4:26 mark. JJ Martinez caught Reese Searcy's assist pass under the hoop and put in the reverse layup with 2:32 left to get to 48-54. LaKayla Hale made one free throw nearly a minute later. Ivy Gonzalez banked in a 1-footer off of Reese Searcy's assist with 1:08 remaining to close to 50-56. The Bear Cubs were unable to score and were forced to foul. White made two consecutive trips to the free throw line and sank all four free throws. With six seconds to go, Ivy Gonzalez pulled down an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt. She made both free throws. The Hawks inbounded and ran out the clock on their 59-52 win.