SRJC 46, Chabot College 72
The Bear Cubs (2-0) traveled south to Hayward to take on the Gladiators (3-0) of Chabot College. The Bear Cubs won the tipoff, and Ivy Gonzalez was able to drive around a baseline defender to bank in the first two points. Neither team scored until Kaia Eubanks successfully completed a low post move at the 6:34 mark. Gonzalez's 6-footer on the Bear Cubs' next possession gave the Bear Cubs a 6-0 lead. The Gladiators then scored 7 unanswered points on a 3-pointer by Chelsy Antinero, plus a field goal and two free throws by Nia Hunter. Eubanks' two free throws put the Bear Cubs back in front. Antinero swished another 3-pointer, and then Gonzalez banked in a 1-footer off of Sydney Martin's assist, tying the score at 10-10. Gonzalez's scoring drive with 1:00 left broke the tie. Antinero's third 3-pointer gave the Gladiators a 13-12 lead by the end of the quarter.
The Gladiators made two field goals in the first minute of the second quarter, while the Bear Cubs added five points on Kaia Eubanks' 5-footer and Ivy Gonzalez's 3-pointer with 8:42 on the clock. During the remainder of the period, the Gladiators only scored 7 more points on 7 out of 8 free throws. The Bear Cubs, too, only scored 7 points on Sydney Martin's 2-footer on a low post move, one free throw by Cece Solano, Gonzalez's 4-footer, and two free throws by Eubanks to go into halftime ahead 24-22.
Lex Pletschette took the Gladiators' first shot of the third quarter and drained the 3-pointer. The Bear Cubs put together a 12-0 run on Ivy Gonzalez's 3-pointer, her 15-footer, her two technical foul free throws, Lindsey Arellano's 18-footer, and Gonzalez's 3-pointer at the 6:29 mark for a 36-25 lead. The Gladiators' Sydney Muther scored her only field goal 11 seconds later, followed by Kaia Eubanks' 1-footer 18 seconds after that. The Gladiators outscored the Bear Cubs 17-2 during the final six minutes of the period to get out in front 44-40.
The fourth quarter was a totally different story with the hosts taking a commanding lead and continuing to build upon it. They started with a field goal by Lex Pletschette and a 3-pointer by Nia Hunter in the first 50 seconds. Kaia Eubanks banked in a 2-footer off of Lindsey Arellano's assist 10 seconds later. Then Pletschette put in two more field goals and Hunter two free throws and a field goal before Eubanks scored on a drive at the 6:08 mark, making the Gladiators' lead 57-44. After Hunter banked in a short shot, she, Pletschette, and Kaida Angelo each sank a 3-pointer. Sydney Martin's 1-footer on a baseline inbounds pass from Cele Urzua with 2:10 on the clock turned out to be the Bear Cubs' final points. The Gladiators finished up with one field goal each by Angelo and Hunter for a 72-46 victory.
The Bear Cubs were able to stay with the Gladiators for the first three quarters. But the fourth quarter belonged to the Gladiators. They outscored the Bear Cubs 28-6, as they made 11 out of 15 shots (73%), including four 3-pointers, plus 2 out of 2 free throws. The Gladiators came into the game averaging 70 points per game and allowing just 50 ppg. The Bear Cubs committed 23 turnovers to the Gladiators' 5. Three Gladiators scored in double figures: Nia Hunter 30, Lex Pletschette 17, and Chelsy Antinero 13.
Ivy Gonzalez led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 25 points, including three 3-pointers. Kaia Eubanks also reached double figures with 12 points. Sydney Martin added 4 points, Cece Solano 3, and Lindsey Arellano 2. Lindsey Arellano was the top rebounder with 8. She also led in assists with 3. Ivy Gonzalez blocked 4 shots.