SRJC 76, Diablo Valley College 63
For their last game of the first round of Big 8 play the Bear Cubs (12-7, 4-3) hosted the Vikings (12-7, 2-5) of Diablo Valley College. Tamana Sharifi got the Vikings on the scoreboard first with a 3-pointer after just 13 seconds. After starting the game with turnovers, the Bear Cubs made their first three shots in a row—Reese Searcy's drive, Ivy Gonzalez's 5-footer, and Lucca Lowenberg's 10-foot pull-up jumper—for a 6-3 lead. Skyler Parker's field goal cut that lead to one. Fourteen seconds later Gonzalez went to the free throw line and moved the lead back to three. Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer at the 4:21 mark widened the lead to 11-5. During the remainder of the period, the Bear Cubs missed all five of their shot attempts, while the Vikings added a layup by Grace Oakley and one free throw by Parker, for an 11-8 lead by the home team.
Maycee Hunter took the first shot of the second quarter and sank the 18-footer. Over a minute later Izzy De la Cruz sank a Viking field goal. On the Bear Cubs' next possession, Meredith Gilbertson drew a shooting foul and made both free throws. The Vikings scored two baskets in a row to close to 14-15. After Lucca Lowenberg's 2-footer and Hunter's fast break layup, Skyler Parker converted a 3-point play at the 6:26 mark. The Bear Cubs tallied six unanswered points on Ivy Gonzalez's 18-footer, Hunter's steal and layup and her 8-footer. De la Cruz made a basket, Ivy Gonzalez banked in a 1-footer off of Meredith Gilbertson's assist, and then De la Cruz swished a 3-pointer with 3:38 on the clock. Gonzalez sank one free throw 21 seconds after that. Lucca Lowenberg drained a 3-pointer and then so did Tamana Sharifi, making the Bear Cubs' lead 31-25. Gonzalez scored the next four points on a putback and a fast break layup. Parker dropped in a shot from next to the hoop with six seconds left. The Bear Cubs quickly inbounded the ball, Lindsey Arellano hurriedly dribbled past half court, passed ahead to Lowenberg, who released the shot from beyond the arc, and the ball fell through the net as the buzzer sounded signifying halftime with the Bear Cubs ahead 38-27.
Ivy Gonzalez scored the first point of the third quarter on one free throw on the Bear Cubs' opening possession. Izzy De la Cruz made a basket 12 seconds later. The Bear Cubs then made six shots in a row—Reese Searcy's drive, Gonzalez's 2-footer off of Meredith Gilbertson's assist, Gonzalez's 12-footer off of Reese Searcy's baseline inbounds pass, Lucca Lowenberg's back cut and assist from Gilbertson, Gonzalez's low post move, and Maycee Hunter's 4-foot pull-up jumper at the 5:31 mark—to sprint out to a 52-33 margin. After Parker's basket 42 seconds later, Hannah Webb scored the Bear Cubs' final field goal of the quarter on a drive down the middle of the key for a 54-35 lead with 4:29 on the clock. The Vikings took advantage of the Bear Cubs' misses and fouling to outscore them 12-2 during the rest of the quarter. The Bear Cubs only added one free throw each by Webb and Maya Salas to end the period in front 56-47.
Lexie Lipary put in the first field goal of the fourth quarter. Lucca Lowenberg drove in to score while getting fouled. She made the and-one free throw. Sixteen seconds after Meredith Gilbertson's putback, Izzy De la Cruz swished a 3-pointer. Skylar Henrich made one out of two free throws, and then so did Reese Searcy. Lucca Lowenberg's steal and layup and Ivy Gonzalez's low post move at the 5:40 mark increased their lead to 66-53. The Vikings tallied the next four points on Skyler Parker's drive and two free throws by Lipary. The Bear Cubs responded with five unanswered points on Maycee Hunter's 3-pointer and Gonzalez's 1-footer off of Searcy's assist with 2:37 on the clock. Five seconds later Parker was back at the free throw line to put in her 11th and 12th free throws. With 1:01 left De la Cruz sank a field goal. JJ Martinez scored the Bear Cubs last five points on a 10-footer and a 3-pointer with 29 seconds to go. Lipary added one more field goal, making the final score 76-63.
The short-handed Vikings only had seven players suited up, as two, including leading scorer Tegan Gaines, were out with injuries. The Vikings played tough defense for most of the game. It was only during the second quarter that the Bear Cubs were able to outscore them 27-19. After the first five minutes of the third quarter the Bear Cubs built up a 52-33 lead before the Vikings regrouped and bounced back to close the gap to 47-56 by the end of the period. Skyler Parker led all scorers with 25 points, including 11 out of 13 from the free throw line. Izzy De la Cruz reached double figures with 16 points.
Ivy Gonzalez just missed a double-double with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Lucca Lowenberg sank three 3-pointers and totaled 20 points. Maycee Hunter made 6 out of 8 shots, including one 3-pointer, to finish with a season-high 13 points. Reese Searcy, JJ Martinez, and Meredith Gilbertson each scored 5 points. Hannah Webb added 3 points and Maya Salas 1. Meredith Gilbertson passed for 6 assists and Reese Searcy for 4. Lucca Lowenberg and Maycee Hunter each made 4 steals.