SRJC 61, Cypress College 46
The Bear Cubs (2-1) and the Cypress College Chargers (0-1) were invited to play at Fresno City College in a 3-team crossover. Thursday evening the host Rams defeated the team from Southern California 95-49. Friday afternoon it was the Bear Cubs' turn to face the Chargers.
Lucca Lowenberg took the Bear Cubs' first three shots of the game and swished all three from beyond the arc for a 9-2 lead after three minutes of play. After one free throw by Ivy Gonzalez and Reese Searcy's 1-footer off of Lowenberg's assist, the Bear Cubs were ahead 12-4 with 4:45 on the clock. A Charger basket by Dorothy Schwenck was followed by Praise Nigimar's putback. Katie Bojorquez added one more field goal for the Chargers with 1:22 left. JJ Martinez was fouled at the buzzer and made one of two free throws with no time on the clock to give the Bear Cubs a 15-8 lead.
The Bear Cubs started the second quarter with the ball, and eventually JJ Martinez caught a bullet crosscourt assist pass from Reese Searcy before draining the 3-pointer. Charger post player Jolie Johnson scored a field goal on her team's first possession. Lucca Lowenberg's 3-pointer was followed by another Johnson basket. Maya Salas caught Searcy's assist pass beyond the arc and swished the 3-pointer. Just 15 seconds later Samantha Carrillo dropped in her own 3-pointer and over a minute later Yenkhe Samten also sank a 3-pointer. Hannah Webb's 3-pointer at the 5:28 mark made the Bear Cubs' advantage 27-15. The Bear Cubs outscored the Chargers 8-1 during the next four minutes on Lowenberg's 5-foot pullup jumper, two free throws by Meredith Gilbertson, Lowenberg's 6-footer, and Gilbertson' 1-footer on a baseline inbounds pass from Lindsey Arellano. Schwenck scored a field goal, and then Maya Salas hit another 3-pointer. Lowenberg intercepted a pass and dribbled down to bank in the uncontested layup. Carrillo's field goal with 16 seconds left made the Bear Cubs' halftime margin 40-23.
Ivy Gonzalez dropped in a 4-footer, and Reese Searcy made a steal and layup before the Chargers' Sierra Hill's field goal with 7:25 on the clock in the third quarter. The Chargers added two free throws, a 3-pointer and field goal by Journie Hayden to cut their deficit to 32-44 at the 4:29 mark. Praise Nigimar's 15-footer 19 seconds later broke the ice for the Bear Cubs. Ivy Gonzalez's putback with 3:46 left was soon followed by a Jolie Johnson basket. Maya Salas' 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining gave the Bear Cubs a 51-34 margin. The Chargers scored the last five points of the quarter to close to 39-51.
Meredith Gilbertson's putback started the scoring in the fourth quarter. Reese Searcy made one free throw nearly a minute later. Hannah Webb's successful drive at the 6:01 mark put the Bear Cubs in front 56-39. Jolie Johnson scored a field goal with 4:24 on the clock, and Journie Hayden swished a 3-pointer with 3:50 left. Hannah Webb drove to the free throw line, stopped, and sank the field goal thirteen seconds later. Lindsey Arellano made one free throw with 2:44 remaining and Meredith Gilbertson's drive finished the Bear Cubs' scoring 15 seconds after that. Johnson put in the Chargers' final basket about a minute later, making the Bear Cubs' margin of victory 61-46.
The Bear Cubs scored 25 points in the second quarter, including five 3-pointers, providing enough of a cushion to withstand the comeback efforts by the Chargers, who outscored them in the second half 23-21. All but one of the Chargers scored, with only Jolie Johnson reaching double figures with 13 points.
Similarly, for the Bear Cubs all players who saw action scored, and only Lucca Lowenberg reached double figures with 18, including four 3-pointers and three field goals. Maya Salas sank three 3-pointers for 9 points. Meredith Gilbertson got into foul trouble and finished with 8 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Hannah Webb added 7 points, Reese Searcy and Ivy Gonzalez 5 each, JJ Martinez and Praise Nigimar 4 each, and Lindsey Arellano 1. Ivy Gonzalez was second in rebounding with 8. Reese Searcy passed for 5 assists, and Maya Salas made 3 stea