SRJC 52, San Joaquin Delta College 78
The Bear Cubs (9-3) opened the 2024-25 Big 8 Conference season Saturday in Stockton at the home of the Mustangs (6-6) of San Joaquin Delta College. The Mustangs sprinted out to a 10-0 lead on fast break layups and drives past multiple defenders, prompting Coach Campbell to call a timeout at the 7:44 mark. When play resumed Sydney Martin and Ivy Gonzalez hit back-to-back 18-footers before Kathreen Noa drained a 3-pointer with 6:15 on the clock. Noa sank a field goal with 5:45 left, and then neither team scored until Gonzalez dropped in an 8-foot fade-away three minutes later. The Mustangs outscored the Bear Cubs 10-1 during the remainder of the period to zip out to a 25-9 lead.
The Mustangs' full court pressure continued to keep the Bear Cubs from sinking shots, as they missed their first 10 attempts, only adding seven points on free throws by Ivy Gonzalez. Sydney Martin's 2-footer off of Cele Urzua's assist with 1:50 on the clock found the Bear Cubs in an 18-42 hole. The Bear Cubs tallied the final three points of the quarter on Gonzalez's 6-foot turnaround jumper after she pulled down an offensive rebound and one free throw by Hailey Webb to go into halftime behind 21-42.
Aaliyah Youngblood made the first field goal of the third quarter after just 19 seconds. The Bear Cubs scored four unanswered points on Sydney Martin's cut and assist from Kaia Eubanks and then Eubanks' 1-footer off of Martin's assist. Youngblood put in five points in a row and two free throws and a 3-point play at the 7:19 mark. Seventeen seconds later Hailey Webb cut to the hoop and caught Martin's assist for an open layup. After Marcelina Chaparro's 3-pointer, Eubanks banked in a 1-footer off of another assist from Martin with 5:24 on the clock. The Mustangs added a field goal by Anyce Jefferson and two more free throws by Youngblood. The Bear Cubs responded with four points on Ivy Gonzalez's 16-footer and Eubanks' 18-footer with 3:13 remaining. Kiara Council drained a 3-pointer 17 seconds later. Eubanks scored on a drive from near the right corner of the key. The Mustangs put in two more field goals, and Sydney Martin dropped in a putback just before the buzzer, to make the Mustangs' advantage 63-37.
Destiny Nichols scored on the Mustangs' first shot attempt of the fourth quarter. Sydney Martin sank a 3-footer 12 seconds later. Anyce Jefferson turned an offensive rebound into a 3-point play. Lindsey Arellano banked in a 1-footer off of Martin's assist, and then Fajr Cuthbertson scored inside at the 8:10 mark. The Bear Cubs added the next five points on Cele Urzua's cut and assist from Cece Solano, one free throw by Arellano, and Ivy Gonzalez's drive. During the final 5:10 of the contest, Kiara Council swished a 3-pointer, Aaliyah Youngblood banked in a layup after a steal, and Jefferson hit a 3-pointer. Meanwhile on the Bear Cubs' side of the court, Betzie Hernandez sank a 2-footer off of Hailey Webb's assist, Kaia Eubanks cut to the basket and banked in the 1-footer off of Webb's pass, and Hernandez made two free throws, resulting in a 78-52 win by the host Mustangs.
The Mustangs used their superior quickness and trapping defensive pressure to force 27 Bear Cub turnovers and score on drives. Their preseason opponents were a lot tougher than those faced by the Bear Cubs, so their 6-6 record is not indicative of their capability to repeat as Big 8 Champs. Four Mustangs scored in double figures: Aaliyah Youngblood with 15, Kiara Council 14, Fajr Cuthbertson 12, and Destiny Nichols 10.
Ivy Gonzalez recorded her seventh double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Kaia Eubanks and Sydney Martin also reached double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Betzie Hernandez added 4 points, Lindsey Arellano and Hailey Webb 3 each, and Cele Urzua 2. Sydney Martin grabbed 8 rebounds and passed for 4 assists.