Valley Glen, CA (Women’s Basketball) -- The Citrus College Women’s Basketball team was the very definition of toughness on Wednesday night. The Owls, with their backs against the wall, persevered against a very good LA Valley squad in overtime 81-71 after trailing for most of the contest.
Citrus picked things up late in the second half. The Owls trailed by as much as eight points with just over five minutes to go, but showed just how tough they were by using a late run to get back into the game. Citrus would cut the lead to five with 2:30 to go and one point moments later when freshman Sarah Rebibo and sophomore Brianna Barfield hit back to back jumpers to make it 61-62.
Valley would push the lead back to three with just over a minute to go, but the Owls responded with another Barfield jumper that cut the lead back to one with 46 seconds left. After Valley missed a pair of free-throws, freshman Kenya Thomas was sent to the line for two with 17 seconds to go. Thomas missed the first, but made the second tying the game at 64 all, and sending the game into overtime after Valley failed to get anything to go on their final offensive possession.
In overtime the momentum had clearly switched to the Owls side as they rolled. Rebibo kicked things off with a jumper in the paint. Barfield would follow that up with one of two free-throws, and sophomore Kristine Reyes got in on the action moments later with a big three that made it 70-64 in favor of Citrus. From that point forward, the Owls never looked back as they outscored LA Valley 17-7 in OT to grab the 81-71 victory.
In the win, Citrus was led by Rebibo’s game high 19 points. Barfield and Thomas added 18. With the win, Citrus improves to 1-17 on the year and 1-2 in WSC South play. The Owls will be off on Saturday and resume conference play next Wednesday at home when they play host to Bakersfield College. Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM.
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