SRJC 57 vs. Fresno City 64

Overall Record: 23-11

Conference Record: 9-5

SRJC 80 vs. Butte 70

Overall Record: 23-10

Conference Record: 9-5

SRJC 68 vs. Cosumnes River 40

Overall Record: 22-10

Conference Record: 9-5

Santa Rosa Gears Up For Playoffs as They Finish Their Season Off with a Win Against Cosumnes River College

Santa Rosa finished off their regular season in a big way, running away from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento for their 22nd win of the season. Inserting all four of the Bear Cubs Sophomores (Jaime Parr, Annie Sacks, Rachel Samana and Erica Wagner) into the starting line-up, Santa Rosa came out aggressive and kept it up for 40 minutes. The Bear Cubs took a comfortable 35-23 lead into halftime and only extended it in the second half. The Bear Cubs executed well offensively, shooting a solid 45% from the floor for the game. They scored 26 field goals on 20 assists for the game. With everyone getting a significant amount of minutes, the scoring was spread out. Santa Rosa used mostly tight man to man defense and held Cosumnes to 17 second half points. The Bear Cubs forced 21 turnovers with their pressure defense. Veronica Morris led the Bear Cubs with 17 points, including three three-pointers, and 6 rebounds. Lisa Muzio was close behind, finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds and a team-high 4 assists. Palagi Atoe also scored in double figures with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kora Wood shot well and finished with 6 points off the bench. Sophomore Captains Erica Wagner and Rachel Samana added 4 points and 3 assists apiece. As always they played with leadership and heart. Mackenzie Bailey chipped in with 3 points and Alex Oser, Jaime Parr and Annie Sacks all added 2 points in the win. Oser and Sacks each also had 5 rebounds. Point guard Tiffany Mims had 3 assists on the night. Santa Rosa ended their successful regular season with an overall record of 22-10 and a 9-5 mark in the Big 8. Santa Rosa hopes to get a high seed in the State playoffs. The Bear Cubs will now anxiously wait for the results of the seeding meeting which will take place on 2/25. The first round will take place on either 2/29 or 3/1.

SRJC 72 vs. Sac City 57

Overall Record: 21-10

Conference Record: 8-5

Hot Shooting Helps Santa Rosa Win Big Against Sac City

In the last regular season home game for the Bear Cubs, the home team came out fired up. There was a brief ceremony to honor the sophomores right before tip off and it gave Santa Rosa even more incentive to win and play well against visiting Sacramento City College. The first half was back and forth with neither team taking more than a five point lead. Santa Rosa looked sharp on the offensive end but had trouble containing Sac’s penetration and the visiting team went to the free throw line thirteen times compared to the Bear Cubs three.This kept Sac City in the game. To end the half, Lisa Muzio hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and Santa Rosa took a 32-28 lead into the locker room. The Bear Cubs opened up the second half strong, extending their lead to double digits in the first few minutes. Sac City would never recover and Santa Rosa cruised the rest of the way. In the second half, the Bear Cubs played solid defense as they mixed it up between man and zone. They forced Sac into 29 turnovers for the game. Lisa Muzio had a double-double to lead the Bear Cubs. She ended up with 22 points, on 10-18 shooting, 11 rebounds and 3 steals. The rest of the scoring was balanced for Santa Rosa as many players contributed. Rachel Samana and Mackenzie Bailey had 9 points apiece in the win while Kora Wood added 8 points including 2-2 from the three. Wood provided key energy off the bench. Veronica Morris and Palagi Atoe each had 7 points and point guard Erica Wagner had 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Alex Oser, Tiffany Mims and Annie Sacks each chipped in with 2 points to round out the scoring. Tiffany Mims had a team high 4 steals. Santa Rosa shot an impressive 48% from the floor for the game. They are now 21-10 and 8-5. Santa Rosa ends their regular season on 2/22 as they travel to Sacramento to take on Cosumnes River College.

SRJC 64 vs. Delta 70

Overall Record: 20-10

Conference Record: 7-5

Santa Rosa Falls To Undefeated Delta 64-70

The Bear Cubs, coming off a tough three point loss to Sierra, played a hard fought game against to a very athletic Delta team. The Mustangs are undefeated in league and ranked 6th in the state. The game could have gone either way. In the first half, the Bear Cubs had trouble handing the pressure of the Delta guards and couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm. Santa Rosa made some adjustments at halftime and limited their turnovers in the second half. Even though Santa Rosa was down by 8 after twenty minutes, they came out of the locker room with energy and confidence. The Bear Cubs couldn’t quite get over the hump as Delta’s lead fluctuated for much of the second half. Santa Rosa put together a furious rally in the late minutes of the game but came up short. Lisa Muzio led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 22 points and 11 rebounds while Mackenzie Bailey had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Rachel Samana had a solid all-around game as she added 7 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Veronica Morris came off the bench to provide major minutes for the Bear Cubs. She gave the Bear Cubs a lift by chipping in with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Palagi Atoe added 5 points as she fought through the flu. Alex Oser had 4 points while Erica Wagner and Kora Wood each contributed with 3 points apiece. The Bear Cubs know they can play with the best teams in the state as they outscored Delta in the second half. Santa Rosa heads into the last week of league with a 7-5 Big 8 record and a 20-10 overall record. These last two games against Sac City and Cosumnes River are crucial for the Bear Cubs as they look to grab sole place of third from Modesto College. The Bear Cubs will play their last home game of the regular season against Sacramento City College on 2/19/2008. Santa Rosa will look to avenge an earlier loss to Sac at Haehl Pavilion at 6pm.

SRJC 60 vs. Sierra 63

Overall Record: 20-9

Conference Record: 7-4

Santa Rosa Comes Up Just Short Against Sierra College

Santa Rosa hit the road for a big game against league rival Sierra College who had an overall record of 24-5 going into the game. The Bear Cubs came out somewhat tentative in the first half but quickly fought their way back in. They played tough defense throughout and held Sierra much below their average but it wasn’t quite enough. Santa Rosa pressured and frustrated the home team into 21 turnovers. Sierra’s gym is a tough place to play and the crowd was a positive factor for Sierra. Down the stretch, Santa Rosa was right in it but a few plays didn’t go the Bear Cubs way. The Bear Cubs fought through a lot of adversity during the game. The effort is always there. Mackenzie Bailey led the Bear Cubs with 15 points including 6-9 shooting from inside the arc. Rachel Samana also scored in double figures as she had 11 points and 6 rebounds. Lisa Muzio, who faced double teams every time she touched the ball, had 8 points while Veronica Morris contributed with 8 as well. She was 2-4 from the three-point line. Palagi Atoe had 6 points and 6 rebounds but was plagued by foul trouble and the flu. Erica Wagner and Annie Sacks each added 4 points while Tiffany Mims and Kora Wood had 2 points apiece. It doesn’t get any easy as the Bear Cubs have only one day off before they travel to play undefeated Delta College. Santa Rosa fell to 20-9 overall and 7-4 in league.

SRJC 68 vs. American River 54

Overall Record: 20-8

Conference Record: 7-3

Santa Rosa Continues Recent Winning Streak By Beating American River 68-54

Santa Rosa controlled from the opening tip. They jumped out to an early lead and American River never made any serious run. Santa Rosa played solid defense, especially in the first half as they held the Beavers to 17 points. The Bear Cub’s offensive sets looked sharp as they put themselves in position to score over and over. Santa Rosa did a good job taking care of the ball while they pressured American River into 26 turnovers. Mackenzie Bailey led the Bear Cubs with 18 points. Palagi Atoe contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds and the Bear Cubs got 11 points and 10 rebounds from Lisa Muzio. Rachel Samana chipped in with 8 points and 4 assists while Erica Wagner had 7 points and 5 assist. Kora Wood gave the Bear Cubs a lift off the bench as she finished with 6 points and provided defensive intensity. Rounding out the scoring for Santa Rosa was Annie Sacks with 3 points and Veronica Morris with 2. The Bear Cubs improved to 7-3 in league and 20-8 overall. The Bear Cubs have a few days to prepare for Sierra College who beat Santa Rosa in their first meeting in league. Santa Rosa beat them twice in preseason play.

SRJC 64 vs. Modesto 45

Overall Record: 18-9

Conference Record: 5-4

Santa Rosa Wins Third in a Row as They Avenge January Loss to Modesto

Santa Rosa came out focused and aggressive in a crucial game against host Modesto College who beat the Bear Cubs by five on January 11th. Santa Rosa controlled the game from the start. They used an up-tempo style of play as they pushed the ball every chance they got. They also played full court man defense that put pressure on the Modesto guards. The home team never got into any kind of rhythm which the Bear Cubs influenced with their defensive intensity. The Bear Cubs slowly built up their lead and it reached twenty-five early in the second half. They were up 32-21 at halftime. Like the Bear Cubs last two wins, everybody contributed. Rachel Samana led the way with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Palagi Atoe, Mackenzie Bailey and Lisa Muzio each added 9 points in the win. Atoe also had 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks while Muzio had 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Annie Sacks played a good game, finishing with 8 points as she was a force inside. Alex Oser provided 8 rebounds, including 5 offensive, to go along with her 6 points. Erica Wagner had 5 points and a team high 4 assists. Kora Wood had 3 points and Veronica Morris and Jaime Parr each scored 2. Tiffany Mims had 5 rebounds and played solid pressure defense. Santa Rosa forced Modesto into 27 turnovers as they had 14 steals. The Bear Cubs will look to extend their winning steak to four as they host American River College on 2/8/08. The Beavers are 13-13 overall and 2-7 in the Big 8. Santa Rosa improved to 18-9 overall and 5-4 in league.

SRJC 61 vs. Diablo Valley 51

Overall Record: 18-8

Conference Record: 5-3

Santa Rosa Opens Up Second Half of League With a Win. Beat Diablo Valley College

Coming off a big win against Cosumnes, the Bear Cubs picked up where they left off. Everyone contributed in a complete team effort. Santa Rosa jumped out to an early double digit lead and coasted the rest of the way. They went into halftime up 35-23. Santa Rosa executed well in their set offense which forced DVC to resort back into a 2-3 zone defense. Santa Rosa pressured the ball full court and forced DVC into 22 turnovers which turned into easy baskets for Santa Rosa. With everyone player logging a significant amount of minutes for the Bear Cubs, the scoring was spread out. Lisa Muzio led the way with 15 points and 6 rebounds. Both Rachel Samana and Mackenzie Bailey had 8 points in the win while point guards Erica Wagner and Tiffany Mims had 6 points apiece. Wagner added 3 assists and Mims had 3 steals. Veronica Morris and Alex Oser each contributed with 5 points. Rounding out the scoring was Kora Wood and Palagi Atoe with 4 points each. Atoe also had a team high 5 assists. Annie Sacks came in and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Bear Cubs will next travel to Modesto to play the Pirates on 2/5/08. They will look to get revenge on the squad that beat them in January by five points. Santa Rosa improved to 17-9 overall and 4-4 in the Big 8.

SRJC 77 vs. Cosumnes River 53

Overall Record: 17-8

Conference Record: 4-3

Santa Rosa Rolls Over Cosumnes River

The Bear Cubs got a much needed victory at home against Cosumnes River College on 1/29. From the opening tip, the Bear Cubs left no doubt. Santa Rosa jumped out to an early lead by making the extra pass for easy lay-ups. They also forced Cosumnes into 28 turnovers which turned into more opportunities for the Bear Cubs. The Bear Cubs were able to work on their set offenses and different defenses in a game situation because of their large lead. Santa Rosa went into halftime up 44-20. Everyone came in and contributed to the Bear Cubs 16th win of the season. Lisa Muzio played well, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Mackenzie Bailey and Veronica Morris both scored in double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively. Bailey also had 3 steals and 3 assists. Forward Palagi Atoe contributed with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Jaime Parr recorded a season high in minutes played as she had 6 points. She played well on both ends of the floor. Kora Wood and Rachel Samana scored 5 points apiece in the win. Wood also had 3 assists while Samana had 2 steals. Annie Sacks (4 points), Erica Wagner (2 points) and Tiffany Mims (1 point) each had an impact on the game. Alex Oser came in and as always, provided hustle and intensity. Santa Rosa shot an impressive 51% for the game. Santa Rosa plays at home next on 2/1/08 at 6 pm. They improved to 16-9 and 3-4.

SRJC -- vs. Sac City --

SAC CITY FORFEIT'S GAME

Overall Record: 16-8

Conference Record: 3-3

SAC CITY DECLARED A FORFEIT LOSS TO SRJC IN THIS GAME

Santa Rosa struggled against hot shooting Sacramento City College in their 73-55 Loss

Santa Rosa fought their way through heavy rain and traffic to get to Sacramento on time and they arrived about a half hour before tip off. The Bear Cubs came out with little energy compared to the home team as Sacramento took an early lead and Santa Rosa was forced to play from behind for almost the entire game. Sacramento used a full court press that bothered the Bear Cubs as they had trouble taking care of the ball and also took rushed shots. Santa Rosa fought through the first half and went in to halftime down 22-28. In the second half the Bear Cubs cut the lead to three at one point but would get no closer. In the second half, Sac City guard Morgan Hunter hit four backbreaking three pointers with a hand in her face which hurt the Bear Cubs mentally. Santa Rosa never recovered. The Bear Cubs know they’re the better team and will look to get revenge when Sac City comes to Santa Rosa. Lisa Muzio led the Bear Cubs with 14 points. Palagi Atoe had 12 points and 8 rebounds, all in the first half, as she came down with the stomach flu. Atoe’s inside presence was greatly missed in the second half. Mackenzie Bailey had 10 points and 3 steals before fouling out late in the game. Veronica Morris played a key role as she came of the bench to score 7 points and handed out 4 assists. Rachel Samana had 6 points and 6 rebounds in the loss while Tiffany Mims and Erica Wagner each contributed with two points. Mims also had 3 steals. Annie Sacks and Kora Wood each added 1 points for the Bear Cubs. Santa Rosa’s next game is at home against Consumnes River College on 1/29. Santa Rosa’s record is now 15-9 and 2-4 in the Big 8. 

SRJC 71 vs. Delta 77

Overall Record: 15-8

Conference Record: 2-3

Santa Rosa Loses Close One Against Delta

Santa Rosa came out strong in the opening minutes against rival Delta College. The teams looked evenly matched as they exchanged baskets for much of the game. Santa Rosa did a nice job of getting the ball inside and the Bear Cub’s post players went to work. Santa Rosa also scored on fast break lay-ups and fearless drives to the hoop by the Bear Cub guards. Santa Rosa went into halftime down two 35-33. The first ten minutes of the second half was more of the same with neither team getting up by more than about six points. Down the stretch, Santa Rosa got cold from the field and Delta hit some big shots. Delta’s athletic guards pressured the Bear Cubs full court which made it difficult for Santa Rosa to get into their offense. Santa Rosa’s effort was impressive but they fell for the second time this season to the Mustangs. Lisa Muzio’s 23 points led the way for the Bear Cubs. Mackenzie Bailey played well as she had 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists. Rachel Samana and Palagi Atoe each had 12 points. Samana hit some big shots in the game as she went 3-7 from beyond the arc. Kora Wood (3), Annie Sacks (2) and Tiffany Mims (1) rounded out the scoring for Santa Rosa. The Bear Cubs, who had been struggling from the field in the last few games, shot a much improved percentage against Delta. Next up, Santa Rosa travels to Sacramento on 1/25 to take on Sacramento City College. Santa Rosa fell to 15-8 and 2-3 in league.

SRJC 57 vs. Sierra 64

Overall Record: 15-7

Conference Record: 2-2

Back and Forth Game Ends With Sierra Defeating Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa jumped out to a quick lead in the first half against league rival Sierra College. It was a big game for both teams as Sierra tried to stay unbeaten in league and Santa Rosa aimed to remain up with the top teams in the very competitive Big 8 conference. The Bear Cubs acquired their double digit lead by crashing the offensive boards for second chance points and also by drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line where they shot 11- 14 in the opening half. Sierra’s hot shooting helped them back into the game and they went into halftime up 30-28 to the Bear Cubs. It would prove to be a back and forth game with Sierra building a ten point lead early in the second half. Santa Rosa kept battling and would eventually take a one point lead late in the second half. Veronica Morris made two pivotal three pointers in the run. But Santa Rosa couldn’t out the win as Sierra capitalized and made shots late in the game. Lisa Muzio led the Bear Cubs in scoring and rebounding as she finished with 11pts and 14 rebounds. Mackenzie Bailey also scored in double figures with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Despite foul trouble Palagi Atoe had 9 points and 5 rebounds on the night while guards Veronica Morris and Rachel Samana had 8 points apiece. Samana also came up with 6 rebounds. Erica Wagner ended up with 6 points and 3 assists. Kora Wood and Annie Sacks came in and contributed with 3 and 2 points respectively. The Bear Cubs did a good job taking care of the ball and they held Sierra College well below their scoring average but they had a lot of trouble scoring the ball, especially from the outside. Santa Rosa has a few days to regroup before Delta College, who is undefeated in league, comes to Santa Rosa to take on the Bear Cubs. Santa Rosa is now 15- 7 and 2-2.

SRJC 57 vs. American River 52

Overall Record: 15-6

Conference Record: 2-1

Santa Rosa Jumps Out to Big Lead and Holds On

Santa Rosa came out aggressive and controlled the game from the opening tip in their third league game of the season. They also did a good job of controlling the tempo as they got a mixture of easy buckets in transition and also executed well in their half court offensive sets. They ran their plays with precision and scored on several lay-ups out of them in the first half. They also played solid defense as they held American River to 13 first half points. The score going into the locker room was 30-13. With the Bear Cubs playing well, Santa Rosa was able to go with an 11 player rotation and everyone contributed in the win. The all freshman front court of  Lisa Muzio and Palagi Atoe led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 14 and 12 points respectively. Atoe finished with a double-double as she grabbed 10 rebounds as well. Erica Wagner, who is one of two sophomores, gave a solid effort from the point guard position as she had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Mackenzie Bailey had 6 points and 5 rebounds and also helped slow down American River’s best player. Veronica Morris had 5 points in the win and Annie Sacks and Rachel Samana each contributed with 4 points. Samana also grabbed 6 rebounds. Kora Wood provided tough defense of the bench as she made it difficult for American River to get good looks. She also chipped in with 2 points while Tiffany Mims used her quickness to pressure the ARC’s guards into turnovers and bad passes. Mims rounded out the scoring with 1 point. Alex Oser and Jaime Parr provided intensity and hustle in the win and also played tough defense. Santa Rosa had trouble closing out American River in the second half as they let the home team shoot themselves back into the game but the Bear Cubs held on to get their second league win. On 1/18, Sierra College comes to town as the Bear Cubs host their league rivals. Santa Rosa is 2-0 against Sierra this year and they hope to make it 3-0. The Bear Cubs improved to 15-6 overall and 2-1 in the Big 8.

SRJC 54 vs. Modesto 59

Overall Record: 14-6

Conference Record: 1-1

Santa Rosa Suffer First Loss In League

Santa Rosa seemed pumped up and ready to play against Modesto College in their first league game at home. The Bear Cubs jumped out to an early lead and led 23- 18 at halftime; but Modesto came out a different team after the break. The Pirates got hot from the outside and Santa Rosa had trouble taking care of the ball. Even though the Bear Cubs stuggled from the field, they just couldn’t close out the Pirates. Lisa Muzio played a great game for Santa Rosa, finishing with 19 points and 19 rebounds. She also had 3 assists and 3 blocks. Freshman forward Palagi Atoe scored 12 points and had 9 rebounds. Guard Mackenzie Bailey also scored in double figures as she had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Veronica Morris had 4 point and 3 assists coming off the bench. Four player had two point each; Rachel Samana, Kora Wood, Annie Sacks and Tiffany Mims. Santa Rosa did a nice job of getting in the passing lanes as they came up with 17 steals. The Bear Cubs were active on the glass as they finished with 20 offensive rebounds on the night but it just wasn’t enough as the Bear Cubs fell to the most recently added team in the Big 8. Santa Rosa had a tough shooting night, especially from the outside. Next they will hit the road to face American River College in Sacramento who has been playing well as of late. The Bear Cubs fall to 14-6 and 1-1.

SRJC 43 vs. Diablo Valley 39

Overall Record: 14-5

Conference Record: 1-0

Santa Rosa Finds a Way Beat DVC 43-39 to Open League Play

Santa Rosa came out to a slow start in the Big 8 League opener against Diablo Valley College. DVC opened the game with a 10-0 run. Santa Rosa had trouble converting on the offensive end as DVC looked comfortable at home. After a timeout to regroup, the Bear Cubs started chipping away at the lead but couldn’t find their rhythm. The Bear Cubs went into halftime down by 11. Santa Rosa opened up the second half in an aggressive run and jump defense that put pressure on the DVC guards. They forced turnovers and continued to cut into the lead. The Bear Cubs held Diablo Valley College to 16 points in the second half while forcing them into 41 turnovers throughout the game. Their defense was solid but Santa Rosa’s offense struggled all night. The effort was there and the Bear Cubs showed resilience as they made plays when they had to. Rachel Samana and Erica Wagner both hit two clutch free throws in the last two minutes. Samana’s free throws put Santa Rosa ahead by two while Wagner’s preserved the lead. Palagi Atoe came up with some crucial rebounds and also took a game saving charge that kept DVC from reclaiming the lead. Mackenzie Bailey led the way for Santa Rosa, scoring 11 points to go with 5 steals. Veronica Morris came off the bench to provide some much needed scoring, finishing with 8 points on the night. Lisa Muzio and Palagi Atoe each had 6 points and had 11 and 12 rebounds respectively. Rachel Samana had 5 points and 3 rebounds in the win while Erica Wagner had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Tiffany Mims provided intensity off the bench as she rounded out the scoring with 3 points. Next up, the Bear Cubs will face a tough Modesto College squad at home on 1/11. Santa Rosa improved to 14-5 and 1-0 in the Big 8.

SRJC 71 vs. Sierra 61

Overall Record: 13-5

Santa Rosa Comes From Behind to Beat Sierra

Santa Rosa looked in control in the opening minutes of the consolation championship of the San Jose Tournament. They came out aggressive, attacking the basket and grabbing numerous offensive rebounds. But the run didn’t last long as Sierra got into a rhythm and Santa Rosa became stagnant on offense. The Bear Cubs went into halftime down 27- 34. Early in the second half Sierra expanded their lead to 10. Santa Rosa kept fighting back and cut the lead to three but Sierra hit some big shots to build their lead back up to double digits. Santa Rosa didn’t panic but battled back. They played with urgency, hit some big shots and shut down Sierra’s offense, frustrating the Wolverines and forcing critical turnovers. It was a twenty- two point swing as Santa Rosa went from being down twelve to winning by ten. Rachel Samana hit three huge three pointers in the second half and finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds on the night. Lisa Muzio scored a game high 17 points and grabbed 12 boards. Mackenzie Bailey had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Despite foul trouble, Palagi Atoe had 12 points and 4 rebounds. Santa Rosa got 9 points from point guard Erica Wagner as well as 3 steals and 4 assists. Veronica Morris (4 points), Tiffany Mims (3 points) and Annie Sacks (2 points) provided excellent energy and strong defense off the bench. It was a complete team effort as the Bear Cubs proved they could play from behind. They shot 50% from the floor in the second half as they handed Sierra College a devastating loss. This tournament ended preseason play for Santa Rosa as they now prepare for the start of league. They open against Diablo Valley College on the road on 1/8/2008. The Bear Cubs go into the most important part of their season with a solid 13-5 record.

SRJC 75 vs. College of the Canyons 67

Overall Record: 12-5

Santa Rosa Outlasts College of the Canyons

Facing their first elimination game of any tournament this year, the Bear Cubs responded with a hard fought win against a talented Canyons team. Santa Rosa played with determination and poise throughout and stayed focused for a full 40 minutes. The Bear Cubs had four players in double figures for the game. Lisa Muzio finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds while Mackenzie Bailey had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Rachel Samana bounced back from a tough shooting night and contributed with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Samana also hit 4-4 clutch free throws in the closing minutes. Erica Wagner scored 11 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 5 assists as she did a good job of controlling the ball from the point guard position. Palagi Atoe had 8 points and 5 rebounds but was in foul trouble for most of the night. Tiffany Mims provided a huge lift off the bench, scoring 7 points and playing tough defense. Veronica Morris played a solid all around game finishing with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Intensity and energy from everyone on the court and the bench was crucial and it was evident that the Bear Cubs wanted it more. Going into halftime the score was knotted at 28 but Santa Rosa shot 53% from the floor in the second half as well as hitting 75% from the line. Defense was key as the Bear Cubs forced College of the Canyons into 20 turnovers. Santa Rosa advances to the consolation championship tomorrow against ever growing rival Sierra College. Santa Rosa won the first battle earlier this season and tomorrow’s game should be an intense showdown. Santa Rosa’s overall record is now 12-5.

SRJC 54 vs. Pasadena 65

Overall Record: 11-5

Santa Rosa Comes Out Strong but Can’t Close it Out Against Talented Pasadena

Santa Rosa played aggressive up-tempo basketball in the first half of the opening round of the San Jose Tournament. They played solid defense that turned into offense against the super athletic Pasadena Lancers. The Bear Cubs did a good job of moving the ball and keeping everyone involved in the offense. It was a back and forth half with Santa Rosa going into halftime down 31-32. The Lancers are known for their stifling defense and transition attack on offense but Santa Rosa did an excellent job of slowing them down which frustrated Pasadena. In the second half the Bear Cubs played hard and were right in the game until about 8 minutes. Pasadena made some adjustments and got the ball inside so they could use their height advantage. The Bear Cubs also gave up some crucial offense rebounds and put backs and Pasadena was able to use their quickness to get to the basket and pull ahead down the stretch. Santa Rosa kept attacking and got good looks but shot only 30% for the game including 1-15 from beyond the arc. The Bear Cubs were led by Lisa Muzio’s 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double- double. She was 8- 10 from the floor. Mackenzie Bailey scored 9 points before going down with a jaw injury in the second half. Palagi Atoe had 8 points and 7 rebounds while Annie Sacks finished with 6 and 3. Both played tough post defense inside. Erica Wagner and Veronica Morris both finished with 4 points while Tiffany Mims and Rachel Samana had 3 apiece to round out the scoring. The Bear Cubs played well against one of the top teams in the state and held them much below their scoring average. But they know they need to make some adjustments to reach that next level. It doesn’t get any easier as they will face either Delta College or College of the Canyons tomorrow in the second round. Santa Rosa fell to 11-5 on the season.

SRJC 69 vs. San Mateo 57

Overall Record: 11-4

Everyone Contributes in the Bear Cubs 11th Win of the Year - Santa Rosa Beats San Mateo

Santa Rosa played a complete game just before Christmas break, going to San Mateo and beating the Bulldogs 69-57. The Bear Cubs used a tough defense in the first half to gain a 14 point lead at the break. Lisa Muzio had 10 of her 18 points in the first half; she finished the game with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Santa Rosa got a big effort inside from Palagi Atoe who led the Bear Cubs with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Santa Rosa was hot from the start shooting 52% from the floor in the first half including 5-8 from the 3pt line. Sophomore Rachel Samana helped out with 11 points (3-5 3pt) and 6 rebounds. The Bear Cubs got solid performances from all their players, Kora Wood 7pts, Erica Wagner 5pts, Veronica Morris 4pts, Mackenzie Bailey 3 pts, Annie Sacks and Jamie Parr 1 pt. Everyone chipped in with suffocating defense allowing the Bear Cubs to capitalize on San Mateo’s 23 turnovers’. Wagner lead the team with 6 assist while Wood and Samana both came up with two steals. Santa Rosa gets some time off for Christmas then heads right back into the fire at the San Jose Tournament. They start tournament play with perennial powerhouse Pasadena at 3:00pm on Thursday December 27th.

SRJC 59 vs. San Francisco 74

Overall Record: 10-4

Santa Rosa Again Falls to San Francisco

The Bear Cub’s home woes continued on Tuesday night as they lost to a tough San Francisco team. Their four loses on the season have all occurred on their home court. Santa Rosa never got into any kind of offensive rhythm and had trouble containing the Rams penetration and hot outside shooting. The Bear Cubs had many good looks at the basketball because of their transition game and penetration but had trouble converting. Santa Rosa was in foul trouble most of the game which took a toll on the home team and they had difficulty rebounding against a taller San Francisco squad. The young Bear Cubs continue to grow with each game and always keep fighting through tough nights. Lisa Muzio led the Bear Cubs with 24 points on 10-15 from the floor. Rachel Samana finished with 13 points on the night while Mackenzie Bailey had 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Palagi Atoe scored 6 points but was in foul trouble all game. Rounding out the scoring was Veronica Morris and Tiffany Mims with 4 points each. Next up the Bear Cubs will travel to San Mateo on December 22nd to play a 4 o’clock game against San Mateo College. Santa Rosa is now 10-4 on the year.

SRJC 78 vs. Skyline 63

Overall Record: 10-3

Bear Cubs Knock Off Scrappy Skyline

The Bear Cubs, coming off a painful loss to Delta, took care of Skyline College of San Bruno on the road. Not playing the best game of the season, the Bear Cubs made plays when they had to. They executed fairly well and shot well from the free throw line but turnovers hurt the Bear Cubs as well as giving up too many offensive rebounds. It was evident Santa Rosa was the better team as they got out in transition in the second half and scored many fast break points. Santa Rosa did a good job of seeing the open person and making the extra pass against Skyline’s defense. The team had 17 assists. The Bear Cubs played hard and overcame the loss of post player Jess Champagne to a knee injury in the second half. Lisa Muzio had a double- double with 23 points and 14 rebounds. She also had 4 assists and 3 blocks. Rachel Samana, Veronica Morris and Palagi Atoe each scored in double figures with 11 points apiece. Atoe also grabbed 11 rebounds. Mackenzie Bailey chipped in with 7 points and 3 blocks. Kora Wood had 5 points while Alex Oser (4), Annie Sacks (3), Erica Wagner (2) and Tiffany Mims (1) were able to contribute as well. Point guard Wagner also had 5 assists. The Bear Cubs improved to 10-3 on the year. Now, they have a few days to prepare for a rematch against San Francisco City College who beat them on 12/7. The Rams visit Santa Rosa at 7pm on Tuesday, December 18th.

SRJC 73 vs. Delta 77

Overall Record: 9-3

Santa Rosa Suffers a Heartbreaker at the Hands of Delta / Cubs Fall to 4th Place in Tournament

Santa Rosa came out strong against the Delta Mustangs in the third place game of the Caren Frenci Invitational Tournament. The Bear Cubs jumped on the visiting team early, outscoring Delta 45- 32 in the first half. They were aggressive on offense. They did a good job of taking the ball to the hoop and hit some outside shots. They shot 53% in the first half and played solid half court man defense against an athletic Delta team. They forced 23 turnovers for the game. In the second half the Bear Cubs had trouble holding their lead. Delta got hot from the outside and also scored on fast break lay-ups. The Bear Cubs kept fighting and were able to stretch the lead back up to 9 with about five minutes to play. They hit some clutch shots down the stretch but Delta stayed hot from beyond the arc. With about a minute left, Lindsey Saffold of Delta player hit a baseline 3- pointer to take their first lead of the game. The Bear Cubs had a chance to win but turned the ball over on a 5 second call, sealing the victory for Delta. Lisa Muzio led the scoring attack for the Bear Cubs. She had 18 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out in the closing seconds. Palagi Atoe and Mackenzie Bailey each scored 15 points. Atoe also had 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Bailey had 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Rachel Samana added 8 points and 10 rebounds and Erica Wagner had 7 points. Annie Sacks and Kora Wood helped out with 4 points apiece. Veronica Morris chipped in with 2 points as well as providing energy on the court. Santa Rosa looks forward to getting another shot at Delta later on in the season. The Bear Cubs are now 9-3 and will play Skyline in San Bruno on December 14th.

SRJC 57 vs. San Francisco 71

Overall Record: 9-2

SRJC 65 vs. Mendocino 28

Overall Record: 9-1

Santa Rosa Handles Mendocino in Opening Round of Own Caren Franci Invitational Tournament
           
Hosting their annual Caren Franci Invitational tournament, the Bear Cubs won easily over the Mendocino Eagles. Santa Rosa jumped out to a 36-12 halftime lead and continued their dominance through the second half. Santa Rosa played mostly zone defense in the victory and forced the visitors into 23 turnovers without putting a lot of pressure on the ball. The Bear Cubs tied a season low, 12 turnovers. Veronica Morris led the way with 14 points and 3 steals. Mackenzie Bailey, Erica Wagner and Palagi Atoe each had 8 points in limited playing time. Bailey also had 5 rebounds. Rachel Samana chipped in with 7 points and 6 rebounds. Alex Oser played well, finishing with 6 points and 4 rebounds. Scoring 4 points each, Lisa Muzio and Annie Sacks were able to contribute. Tiffany Mims (2) and Kora Wood (1) scored and helped in other aspects of the game. Mims had 2 offensive rebounds and Wood had 3 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists. Jess Champagne provided a huge spark off the bench. She scored 4 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Santa Rosa played themselves into the winner’s bracket for the third straight tournament. The Bear Cubs face a tough road ahead, the four teams in the semi finals are all ranked in the top ten in the state. Santa Rosa faces San Francisco at 8pm tomorrow. The Bear Cubs are now 9-1.

SRJC 72 vs. Sierra 62

Overall Record: 8-1

SRJC Beats Sierra to Win Championship

After making it to the Championship game of the Shasta Tournament, Santa Rosa came out fired up and played a solid game on both ends of the floor. The Bear Cubs frustrated Sierra early and often with their tough defense. They pressured the ball full court, forcing Sierra to rush into their offense and they had trouble getting good looks at the basket. Santa Rosa’s defense has been their strong point all season and it continued in the championship game. Santa Rosa built their lead to twenty in the second half and rode that the rest of the game. Lisa Muzio had a double- double for the Bear Cubs with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Mackenzie Bailey had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Veronica Morris contributed 12 points and played strong defense against one of Sierra’s top players. Erica Wagner scored 10 points despite getting into foul trouble. Rachel Samana had 7 points in the win and stepped up defensively for Santa Rosa. Kora Wood and Palagi Atoe each scored 4 points. Atoe also played solid post defense but had to sit for most of the game with foul trouble. Alex Oser and Annie Sacks rounded out the scoring with 2 points apiece. Lisa Muzio took home the MVP award and Mackenzie Bailey was selected onto the All- Tournament team. Santa Rosa improved to 8-1 on the year. Next up, Santa Rosa hosts the Caren Frenci Invitational Tournament on December 6, 7 and 8. They open with Mendocino on the 6th at 8pm at Heahl Pavilion.

SRJC 66 vs. Shasta 57

Overall Record: 7-1

Bear Cubs Outlast Shast in 2nd Round, SRJC Advances to Championship

The Bear Cubs started out slow against the host team of the tournament but played well the rest of the game, especially down the stretch. Santa Rosa was down 12-2 in the opening minutes but slowly closed the gap and went into halftime with the score knotted at 26. In the second half they did a good job of getting the ball inside and scored on an array of fast break lay-ups and in their half court offense. They pressured the ball full court and forced Shasta into 32 turnovers that turned into scoring opportunities for the Bear Cubs. Lisa Muzio played very well for Santa Rosa. She scored a career high 27 points hitting on 12-20 shots from the field and also grabbed 8 rebounds. Two other players scored in double figures with Mackenzie Bailey scoring 16 and Palagi Atoe scoring 11. Four other Bear Cubs scored in the win with Veronica Morris (4), Kora Wood (3), and Erica Wagner (2), Rachel Samana (2) and Annie Sacks (1) all playing well and finding other ways than scoring to help their team win. Wood also had a team high 5 steals. The Bear Cubs will play in the championship game for their second straight tournament of the year. They will face league rival Sierra College in the Championship game.

SRJC 66 vs. Mendocino 36

Overall Record: 6-1

Santa Rosa Wins Big in Opening Round of Shasta Tournament

Everyone contributed in the Bear Cubs sixth win of the season. Playing in the annual Shasta Tournament, Santa Rosa opened with Mendocino College. They jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Reserves for the Bear Cubs played good minutes as the scoring was balanced. Santa Rosa was able to work on a mixture of their full and half court trapping defenses as well as straight man to man. It worked well as they held their opponent to just 36 points. They scored a lot of transition baskets and also shot an impressive 8-11 from three point range. Sophomore Rachel Samana led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 13 points while going 3-5 on three pointers. She also had 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Shooting 6-7 from the floor, Palagi Atoe had 12 points in the win. Freshman guard Kora Wood (El Molino), playing in her first junior college game, played well ending up with 11 points. Starters Lisa Muzio and Mackenzie Bailey each had 7 points in limited minutes for the Bear Cubs. Muzio also added 3 steals and 4 blocks. Annie Sacks and Veronica Morris contributed with 5 points apiece. Point guard Erica Wagner had 4 points and 6 assists. Alex Oser rounded out the scoring with 2 points. Backup point guard Tiffany Mims had 4 steals and 4 assists. Santa Rosa improved to 6-1 on the season.

SRJC 61 vs. Solano 58

Overall Record: 5-1

SRJC 78 vs. Butte 64

Overall Record: 4-1

SRJC 48 vs. Foothill 73

Overall Record: 3-1

SRJC 64 vs. Foothill 51

Overall Record: 3-0

Bear Cubs Upset Foothill, Bring Home Championship

Santa Rosa, playing for the third time in three days, came out somewhat tentative in the championship game of the Merced Tournament. Playing against a very athletic Foothill squad, the Bear Cubs were oversized but made up for it by playing hard for 40 minutes. With each possession Santa Rosa played with more confidence in themselves and each other. Foothill went into half time with a five point lead but Santa Rosa came out the second half determined. They quickly took lead and never looked back, shooting an outstanding 60% from the field in the second half. Foothill made a run at the end with full court pressure and aggressive offense but Santa Rosa was able to hold them off. The Bear Cubs had a very balanced attack through out the tournament and the final game was no different. Four Bear Cubs scored in double figures, Lisa Muzio led with 13 points, Palagi Atoe had 11 points as did Veronica Morris, while Mackenzie Bailey finished with ten. Erica Wagner played a very good game controlling the team as the point guard and chipping in nine points while Rachel Samana added seven points and eight rebounds. Alex Oser and Tiffany Mims both contributed offensively and defensively for the Bear Cubs. Atoe finished with 13 rebounds and the tournament MVP award while Muzio gathered All-Tournament honors. Coach Campbell added after the win, “we played very well this weekend; I hope that it is just a glimpse of what this team can do. We have a great core and everyone contributes to this team.” Santa Rosa now 3-0 for the first time since 2005 will face Foothill again on Saturday November 17th. Foothill will be out for revenge and the Bear Cubs are going be faced with a tough, physical game. Game time is 6pm in Heal Pavilion.

SRJC 72 vs. San Jose 59

Overall Record: 2-0

Santa Rosa Beats San Jose, Advances to Championship Game

Playing themselves into the winner’s bracket the night before, the Bear Cubs came out confident in their second game of the season. San Jose City College, like Santa Rosa, has a quick, guard oriented team that plays up-tempo. But Santa Rosa controlled themselves and the game for most of the night. With everyone contributing for the Bear Cubs, they played aggressive defense that led to easy baskets. Santa Rosa forced San Jose into 25 turnovers by throwing a variety of defensive tactics at the Jags. They used their 2-3 zone, full court trapping press and straight man to man which put pressure on San Jose to make the right play. Freshmen Mackenzie Bailey led the way in scoring for the Bear Cubs with 17 points including 7 for 7 from the free throw line. Three other players scored in double figures: Rachel Samana (12), Lisa Muzio (11) and Veronica Morris (10). Palagi Atoe contributed with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Annie Sacks and Erica Wagner each scored 4 points apiece and played tough defense. Alex Oser and Tiffany Mims helped out with 2 points each. Jamie Parr rounded out the scoring with 1 point and 2 rebounds. Santa Rosa is now 2-0.

SRJC 67 vs. Merced 51

Overall Record: 1-0

Bear Cubs Upset Host Team in Merced Tournament

Santa Rosa opened their season with an impressive road victory against the Blue Devils of Merced College who chose to open their own tournament with the Bear Cubs. They were hoping for an easy win but instead they played a hard fought game in which the visiting team prevailed.  From the tip the Bear Cubs had great intensity on the defensive end and scored on a mixture of fast break lay-ups and set plays in their half-court offense.  With all but two of the Bear Cubs playing in their first Junior College game, Santa Rosa overcame their first game jitters and performed. The two returners, Rachel Samana (Casa Grande) and Erica Wagner (Windsor), and freshmen Lisa Muzio (Rincon Valley Christian) led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 14 points each. Palagi Atoe (Maria Carrillo) had 10 points, including two key three-pointers in a Bear Cub run in the second half. Atoe also had 6 rebounds. Veronica Morris (Montgomery) came off the bench to play a crucial role in the win. She had 5 points, 5 steals and 4 assists. Annie Sacks (Fort Bragg) and Mackenzie Bailey (Del Oro) chipped in with 4 points each and played tough defense.  Freshman Alex Oser (Montgomery) rounded out the scoring with 2 points and 4 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Erica Wagner also had 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Muzio also grabbed 9 rebounds.   Next up is day two of the Merced tournament with San Jose City College on 11/9/07 at 7pm.