ROHNERT PARK, Calif. –
Jayme Blackard took the inbound pass with seven second remaining, drove right, backed out and sank a mid-range jump shot as time expired in overtime to give the Sonoma State women's basketball team a 67-65 victory over Cal State East Bay. The win moved the Seawolves to 10-8 in CCAA and keeps them two games up for the last spot in the CCAA Tournament.
The game was close throughout with the teams going back-and-forth. The game featured 16 lead changes and 16 ties and needed an extra five minutes of play to decide a winner. Cal State East Bay took an early lead, leading 12-9 six minutes into the game before the Seawolves ended the quarter on a 7-2 run.
Amanda Luckett recorded a layup,
Taylor Johnson hit a pair of free-throws and
Kianna Maldia drained a 3-pointer in the final minute to take a 16-14 lead after the first.
The second remained tight with the Pioneers scoring the first five points and holding an advantage until Blackard scored four straight to put SSU back in the lead.
Cielo Gonzalez later added a three and
Camille Johnson made a jumper to put Sonoma State ahead by four. They would take a two-point lead into halftime when Gonzalez broke a 29-29 tie with a pair from the line.
The back-and-forth contest continued into the third with neither team leading by more than three points. Luckett and
Chasity Spady each gave the Seawolves a lead in the quarter but it was the Pioneers who grabbed the advantage at the end of three by a point.
CSUEB extended their margin to as many as seven in the fourth, taking a 51-44 lead as the game moved under three minutes remaining.
Alli McDonald made a pair of free throws and after one from the line for the Pioneers, Blackard made a layup to cut it to a four-point contest. The Seawolves cut it two with another pair from the stripe by McDonald who then caused a turnover with a steal. Blackard followed with another tough layup to tie the game at 52-52 with 48 ticks left.
Sonoma State's defense forced another turnover and on the ensuing possession Gonzalez was fouled on a 3-point shot. She calmly sank all three free-throws to cap off an 11-1 run. After a blocked shot by Gonzalez the Pioneers got another attempt and Grace Campbell's three from the corner tied the game with just under seven seconds left. The Seawolves did not get a shot off on the final play of regulation and the game went to overtime.
Gonzalez opened the extra period with a basket and the lead traded back-and-forth from there. McDonald made a pair of baskets and Blackard hit two free-throws but the game once again was tied heading into the final minute. Gonzalez came up big again on the Seawolves first possession in the final minute, making a basket plus the foul to put SSU ahead by two. Campbell answered on the other end and the Seawolves took a timeout with 7.1 seconds remaining.
That set the stage for Blackard who capped off her 14-point performance with the buzzer-beater and a celebration as the bench emptied and mobbed her on the sideline.
Gonzalez turned in a fantastic all-around performance for the Seawolves, leading the way with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals. McDonald finished with a double-double, recording 10 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals while Luckett added 6 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The Seawolves shot 37% from the field but hit 17 of 21 from the free-throw line. CSUEB connected at a 39% clip but made just 10 of 24 from the charity stripe.
Sonoma State well stay at home next week to host Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday and Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. The Seawolves honor their seniors on Saturday with a ceremony before the contest.
