Owls Lose in OT to Barstow

Glendora, CA - Things just didn't break the Owls way on Saturday night when they hosted Barstow College in WSC East play. Citrus was looking for just their second conference win of the year, but were instead sent back to the locker room with their fourth loss. The Owls and Vikings played four and half periods to determine a winner, and they needed all of 44 minutes and 59.7 seconds to determine in Citrus' 84-85 setback.

For a game that was tight throughout and that took all but 0.3 seconds of overtime to decide, the game didn't feature a lot of ties or lead changes. The lead changed hands a total of four times and the score was tied six times, three of which occurred between the end of regulation and into overtime.

In overtime, Barstow would break a 77-77 tie with a small 5-0 run that gave them an 82-77 advantage with 1:08 to go. Sophomore Jasmine Meza would cut the lead to two with a triple on Citrus' next trip down the floor, and after a turnover by the Vikings freshman Jasmine Williams hit the front end of two free-throws to make it 81-82.

Barstow would answer with a jumper to pull back in front 84-81, but after a :30 second timeout by the Owls, Meza would strike again hitting a triple from the wing that tied the game back up at 81 with just over six seconds remaining.

With another timeout left in their arsenal, Barstow called for one and advanced the ball up past half court. Working with six seconds left on the clock, the Vikings' Essen Reece got not just one, not even just two, but three looks at a game winning shot under the basket, before Citrus was whistled for a foul with 0.3 seconds left. Reece, who was 0 for 4 prior to this trip to the charity stripe, missed the first but hit the second, winning the game for Barstow.

In the loss, Citrus was paced by the effort of Meza who scored 24 points, hitting seven treys. Sophomore Marisa Brown had 16 points and 11 boards before fouling out early in the second half, while Williams had 17 points, eight rebounds, six, assists, and six steals for Citrus.

With the loss, Citrus drops to 5-14 overall and 1-4 in WSC East play. The Owls will have Wednesday off before resuming conference action at home on Saturday against LA Valley College at 5:00 PM.