Woodland Hills, CA (Women’s Basketball) -- In their first playoff appearance in four years, the Citrus College women’s basketball team fought through adversity and blown opportunities to pick up their first playoff win in that same span.
Get out-rebounded and still find a way to win. Yes we can. Surrender a late lead in the final seconds of the game, but still make an improbable comeback. Yes we can. Have your bench so depleted that three players account for 82% of your scoring, and it still be enough. Yes we can.
If there was a motto that seemed to capture the moment on Wednesday evening. It was that now infamous line, yes we can. Sophomore Jazmine Matthews’ runner in the lane with just five seconds left in the game sealed the deal for Citrus, as they upended LA Pierce 78-77.
In what was a tight game throughout, Citrus looked like the looser of the two teams to open up the contest. The Lady Owls grabbed an early and slim 3-point lead after back to back lay-ups by Shateah West and Jessica Nieves made the score 8-5.
Both teams would trade baskets over the next few minutes, until Citrus made their first big push of the game, going on a 13-4 run to take a 24-15 lead after a lay-up by Terri Washington with just over nine minutes to go.
After that push, Pierce decided to push back, slowly whittling away at the Citrus lead until they finally took it back at the 3:46 mark when Tiara Richardson’s jumper made the score 34-33.
Pierce would get their lead to as large as six points, but a lay-up by Nieves would be the final score of the half, sending the Lady Owls into the locker room down by four.
When the second half started, momentum began to shift back Citrus’ way. The Lady Owls opened up the half with back to back scores on a jumper by Matthews and a lay-up by Bianca Nunez that knotted the game up at 47-47.
Pierce would respond with a few more buckets, but just minutes later, there was Citrus again this time ready to take their lead back. A trey by Matthews would give Citrus their first lead since the first half, making the score 56-55 with 14:30 to go.
Citrus would maintain that lead for nearly ten minutes, never able to pull away from the Brahma’s. Pierce would prove pesky going tit for tat with the Lady Owls even briefly taking back the lead at 72-71 thanks to a pair of free-throws by Tessondra Williams.
Citrus quickly came back with a pair of free-throws of their own (from Shateah West), and then promptly got a 3-point play by Nieves to push their lead to four with just over two minutes to play.
With their lead basically making the game a two possession game, the Lady Owls began to milk the clock and try and add to their lead. They were able to run the clock down, but unfortunately for them they couldn’t get a jumper to fall.
Pierce would take advantage of that getting a pair of free-throws from Bridget Jenkins to pull within two with 1:47 showing on the clock. After that both teams had a pair of missed opportunities, until Pierce’s Williams drilled a triple with 25 seconds left to give the Brahma’s a 77-76 lead.
After Citrus and Pierce traded missed free-throw attempts, the Lady Owls got the ball back on Pierce’s baseline with 12 seconds left on the clock. Matthews quickly dribbled down the court and split the Pierce defense, drove through the lane, and sent a leaner towards the hoop.
The ball bounced on the back of the rim and ripped through the cords of the net giving Citrus a 1-point lead with five seconds left on the clock. Pierce would have one final chance, but Tiara Richardsons baseline jumper went off the back of the rim, as Citrus advances to the round of 16.
Matthews would finish her night by doing a little bit of everything, scoring 22 points, recording 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Sophomore Terri Washington added a game high 25 points, and sophomore Jessica Nieves finished with 17 (all three combined for 82% of Citrus’ scoring).
With the win, Citrus improves to 23-10 overall, while Pierce’s season ends with a 23-10 record. Thanks to the victory Citrus will continue their season on Saturday, when they travel to #2 Ventura College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.
The Pirates finished the season 31-0 as the only undefeated team in the State. Ventura also spent most of the season ranked #1 in the State and is a favorite to get to the State Championship.
Citrus will certainly have their hands full with a very good Pirate squad. All they have to remember is, “Ye We Can.”
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