Box Score SANTA CRUZ, CA -- Sarah Mackey had twelve rebounds to become the women's basketball all-time leading rebounder but it was not enough as the Banana Slugs fell to NCCAA opponent Bethesda University of California 60-58 Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Both teams were coming off victories in their last contest. UC Santa Cruz was coming off a 71-57 victory over Menlo College last Thursday in Santa Cruz and Bethesda won their last game 70-55 over Northern New Mexico University on Thursday in Monterey Park.
The Banana Slugs would start with the game with an 8-2 run, capped by a Sarah Mackey layup with 15:50 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would expand their lead to nine, at 18-9, on two Trina Torres free throws with 7:37 left in the half. The Flames would close the Banana Slugs' lead to three, at 28-25, after two Shaylynn McMillen free throws with twenty nine seconds left. Sara Crane would miss a jumper before the buzzer sounded and the Banana Slugs led 28-25 at the halftime break.
The Banana Slugs would expand their lead to eight quickly in the second half. With 18:10 left in the half, Mackey would clinch the all-time leader in rebounds on a defensive rebound after a Rosa Ortiz missed layup. The Banana Slugs would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at ten on three occasions; the third coming with 16:41 left at 39-29 on a Lashay Alexander jumper. The Flames would claw their way back into the game, tying the game at 43-43 on a Lucille Gleason layup, with 11:28 left, and would take the lead for good, at 46-43, after a Jessica Bautista three point play with 11:15 left. The Flames would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at six on two occasions; the second occasion coming with 6:32 left, at 52-46, on a Lisette Longomo layup. The Banana Slugs would come as close as one, at 59-58, with forty three seconds remaining, after a Mackey three point play. McMillian would make a free throw to make the score 60-58 with ten seconds left. After a timeout by the Banana Slugs, Sarah Fitzgerald's game-winning three point attempt came up short and the Flames won 60-58.
Mackey had a double double with twenty points and twelve rebounds. Longomo had a double double with a game high twenty six points and a game high thirteen rebounds for the Flames. Geena Giovanetti also had a double double with eleven points and eleven rebounds in the loss. Gleason had eleven points and Bautista had ten points for the Flames.
The Banana Slugs shot 29.1% (23-79) from the field, 8.3% (2-24) from the three point line and was 71.4% (10-14) from the free throw line. The Flames shot 28.8% (17-59) from the field, 41.7% (5-12) from the three point line and 75% (21-28) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced nineteen Flame turnovers scoring eight points off the turnovers while the Flames' defense forced nine turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring eleven points off the turnovers. Bethesda outrebounded UC Santa Cruz 57-50 but the Banana Slugs had seven more assists (18-11) than did the Flames.
The rematch between the two schools will be the next game for the Banana Slugs. The Banana Slugs will take on the Flames on February 7th at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 pm.
