The Bakersfield College women’s basketball team fell below .500 with a 71-69 overtime loss to Santa Barbara College on Nov. 21.
BC’s first basket came seven minutes into the game, after the Renegades struggled with turnovers and firing highly-contested shots.
BC had a tough night from the free-throw line, going 16-of-36 shooting and just 44 percent.
BC coach Paula Dahl called a timeout during her team’s cold streak and got on them for their lack of production on offense and uncharacteristic turnovers.
BC just couldn’t get a rhythm going in the first half, but found themselves trailing by only five points at halftime.
Santa Barbara opened the second half on a 10-0 run and grabbed a 15-point lead and looked as if they were going to run away with the game.
Then BC took a 62-60 lead with 45 seconds left in regulation.
Santa Barbara guard Taylor DeSilva made two key free throws with just 20 seconds left and tied the game at 62.
After trailing 23-18 in the first half, BC outscored SBCC 44-39 in the second half.
“We just came out flat the second half,” Dahl said.
“I tried a lineup I hadn’t done before, and I was really pleased with the team.
“We had key players in foul trouble, and we just kept battling and battling.”
Freshman guard Claesey Tarver went 0 for 4 from the field and fouled out midway through the second half.
Forward Giselle Flores was the second of three BC players to foul out of the game.
Forward Brittany Smith finished the game with 16 points and fouled out in overtime.
“The second half we really pulled it out, we know that we can now compete with any team,” said Smith, when asked about the effort of the team down the stretch.
The loss dropped BC to 1-2 on the early season and Santa Barbara improved to 5-1, in its first road game.
BC’s guard Khiylah Dean was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 9 for 11 and led her team in scoring with 20 points. She missed two free throws late in overtime and BC could not recover.
“Free throws are our nemesis,” said Dahl.
“I do a free-throw drill every day, where they have to run if they miss them, to try to make it game like.”
Nine BC players got to the free-throw line, and Smith was the only player who shot over 50 percent from that area at just 54 percent.
“Free throws are such a mental game and as our kids get more confident, we’ll be fine there,” Dahl said.
Brooke Amenta led SBCC in scoring with 16 points but wasn’t able to play in the extra period, when she appeared to have hurt her ankle.
Head coach Sandrine Krul said that she would be ready to play in Santa Barbara’s next game against Solano College on Nov. 29.
BC’s next scheduled home game will be on Dec. 7 against Taft College.