SRJC 55, Modesto Junior College 47
On Coaches vs. Cancer Night, the Bear Cubs (8-13, 3-6) played host to the Pirates of Modesto Junior College (11-9, 2-7). The Pirates' Annie Winton scored first 32 seconds into the game. The Bear Cubs finally got on the scoreboard over two minutes later on Kierra Johnson's drive. Winton put the Pirates ahead 4-2 with 6:38 on the clock. Kassi Agapoff drove from the right wing to the middle of the key and sank the left handed layup 16 seconds later to tie the score. The Bear Cubs held their opponents scoreless for the rest of the quarter, while they scored 11 more points on Lani Lincoln's drive, Trinity Hawkins' two free throws and layup, Lincoln's 3-pointer, and Johnson's drive with 2:13 left for a 15-4 lead by the end of the quarter.
The Pirates scored the first five points of the second quarter on a 3-pointer and a field goal. Trinity Hawkins hit a jumper at the 8:02 mark, and the Pirates' 6'2" center banked in a putback 30 seconds later. After over two scoreless minutes, the Pirates scored on a drive, and then Lani Lincoln drove, spun around, and dropped in a 12-footer with 5:02 on the clock to make the score 19-13. Winton made one free throw, and Kassi Agapoff scored on a drive. After the Pirates were successful on two free throws, the Bear Cubs made three field goals in a row—Trinity Hawkins' 10-footer, Lizbeth Zavala's cut and layup, and Hanna Morris's 3-footer. The Pirates sank one more field goal, cutting the Bear Cubs' lead to 27-18 going into halftime.
The Bear Cubs started the third quarter with the ball, and Lani Lincoln drained a deep 3-pointer. Following a Pirates' miss, Trinity Hawkins grabbed the rebound and drove the length of the court to score the layup. The next time down, Kierra Johnson drew a shooting foul and made both free throws to stretch the lead to 34-18 with 8:35 on the clock. The Pirates made 3 out of 4 free throws in the next 2:13. Sixteen seconds later Hawkins' drive started a 7-0 run by the Bear Cubs, including one free throws by Kassi Agapoff, and a low post move and two free throws by Kierra Johnson, to put them ahead 41-21 with 4:55 left. During the next four minutes the Bear Cubs only attempted two shots while the Pirates scored 9 unanswered points on 9 out of 10 free throws. Hanna Morris drew a foul with 55.6 seconds remaining and made both free throws. The Pirates again were fouled and made two free throws. They then sank a 3-pointer to close to 35-43 by the end of the quarter.
Annie Winton scored the first three points of the fourth quarter on an opening field goal and one out of two free throws over a minute later. Kassi Agapoff made one free throw with 7:13 on the clock, and nearly a minute afterwards Amaya Macandog scored on a drive. On their next possession Kierra Johnson, scored inside on a nice post move to get their lead up to 48-38 before the midpoint of the quarter. The Pirates scored the next seven points to close the gap to 45-48 with 1:28 left. Fourteen seconds later Macandog set a screen and got knocked to the ground. A pushing foul was called on the offending Pirate, and Macandog made both free throws. After a Pirates' miss, Kierra Johnson drove the right side baseline and put in the big basket with 44.7 seconds remaining. Lizbeth Zavala committed her fifth foul, and the Pirates made both free throws to get to 47-52. The Bear Cubs broke the Pirates' press, and Amaya Macandog was fouled intentionally with 22.4 seconds to go. She made the first but not the second. The Pirates missed their next shot attempt; the Bear Cubs rebounded, called a timeout and advanced the ball. Coach Campbell drew up a play with Macandog passing the ball in. Lincoln started at the far corner of the free throw line and cut to the basket wide open. Macandog made the perfect pass to Lincoln, who caught the ball in stride and made the layup with 14 seconds left. The Pirates called a timeout but could not score, as the Bear Cubs posted the 55-47 win.
The Bear Cubs only turned the ball over 6 times in the first half, but in the second half the Pirates applied full court pressure and forced 13 Bear Cubs' turnovers. During the third quarter, the Pirates scored 17 points, including 14 out of 16 from the free throw line and one 3-pointer, while the Bear Cubs made 7 out of 8 free throws, three field goals, and one 3-pointer for 16 points. The Bear Cubs were whistled for 23 fouls and the Pirates 15. Annie Winton, the Pirates' leading scorer who came into the game averaging 18.6 ppg, led her team with 16 points.
Three Bear Cubs scored in double figures: Kierra Johnson with 14, Lani Lincoln 12, and Trinity Hawkins, who fouled out with 6:49 left in the game, 12. Kassi Agapoff added 6 points, Amaya Macandog 5, Hanna Morris, who missed the two previous games due to injury, 4, and Lizbeth Zavala 2. Guards Lizbeth Zavala and Lani Lincoln each grabbed 7 rebounds. Trinity Hawkins and Kierra Johnson pulled down 6 each.