Something They Needed

Glendora, CA - It had been over two weeks since the Citrus College Women's Basketball team, ranked #13 in Southern California, had looked around and found themselves in a close game. The Owls had that late Saturday afternoon when they hosted Santa Monica College in WSC South action. Citrus would trail as late as 7:14 to go in the fourth quarter, before finally pulling away from the Corsairs at the end, in what might end being a game that they needed as they hist the finally stretch of regular season action.

 Santa Monica would come out swinging early, though the game would stay close over the first five minutes with the two teams trading baskets. Leading 10-8 with just under four minutes to go, the Corsairs embarked on a 14-5 run to put the Owls down by 11 after the first quarter of play. It was the largest first quarter deficit for Citrus since the 14th of November, and was only the second time the Owls had trailed at all after the first quarter in WSC South play. 

The Corsairs would open up the second quarter with another bucket, but the Owls just began to pluck away at Santa Monica getting a triple by freshman Joy Adlao, a jumper from sophomore Elsie Mejia and a lay-in by freshman Marisol Chavez-Delgadoto cut their deficit to six. 

Santa Monica would stop the short spurt with a three pointer, but sophomore Janae Chamois came right back down the floor and answered with a three of her own. Santa Monica would rally with a jumper on their next possession, but a pair of free-throws from Mejia would jump start an 11-1 run by Citrus that saw them go up two after a Chamois lay-up with 2:10 on the clock.

Santa Monica would finally stop the bleeding after a few empty possessions for both squads via a jump shot that knotted the game back up at 34-34 with 44 seconds to go in the half. Citrus would go into the break up by two though, after freshman Marisa Brown laid the ball up and in off the glass thanks to a sweet pass from Chamois with just two seconds left in the second quarter.

The third quarter would prove to be as much of a see saw battle as the first two quarters. Santa Monica would build back up a seven point lead with 5:46 left in the period, but a pair of jumpers and a pair of triples by both sophomore Natalie Gutierrez and Adlao briefly put Citrus back in front 51-48. 

The Corsairs would tie the game back up on their next possession with a rainbow three, but the front end of two free-throws from Gutierrez and a layup by Chavez-Delgado put the Owls back up three with 2:!5 to go. Unfortunately for Citrus, they couldn't carry through to the fourth, as Santa Monica made the final two baskets of the third quarter, while the Owls went 0 for 4 and had a pair of turnovers down the stretch to head into the final frame trailing 55-54. 

The fourth quarter would start out with another outburst by the Corsairs as they hit another big three to go up four. The Owls would turn around though and prove they could get just as big of shots from their crew, as Adlao and Gutierrez drained back to back from downtown to go up two 60-58. Santa Monica couldn't stop making crazy shots though, as they took just 20 seconds from the time Gutierrez's three went up and through the net, to hit yet another there of their own and go back on top 61-60. They would push that lead to two after forcing a Citrus miss and an Owl foul that led to the Corsairs hitting the back end of two free-throws. 

Down by two with 7:14 to go, Citrus had to get something going, and they did just that. After the second free-throw from Santa Monica, Adlao took a pass from Chamois less than six seconds later and hit a deep three that put Citrus up 63-62, kick starting a small 10-0 run by the Owls that saw them take the lead for good. 

Santa Monica would pull to within one with 2:37 to go, but Chamois answered by taking the ball the length of the floor, dribbling through traffic, and laying the ball up and in. The Corsairs would get it back down to two points twice, but Adlao would be responsible for helping put the game away, hitting yet another three with 1:29 to go and then hitting two free-throws with 17 seconds left to seal the 77-73 win. 

Adlao would lead the team with a team high 22 points, hitting six three pointers, and tying a program record. Chamois added 15, to go along with eight rebounds, and seven assists. Chavez-Delgado recorded her second double-double of the year with 14 points and a game high 13 rebounds. Gutierrez rounded out the superlatives with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

With the win, Citrus improves to 15-8 overall and 8-2 in WSC South play. The Owls will be on the road on Wednesday as they take on SoCal #6 and first place College of the Canyons (20-4, 10-0) at 5:00 PM in Santa Clarita.