Vallejo, Calif. - The women's basketball team extended their season by defeating Cal Maritime, 61-55, in tonight's semifinal match-up. The team earned the right to play in their first-ever Cal Pac Championship game.
The game consisted of 13 lead changes and seven tie scores. In what was undoubtedly one of the tightest played games of the season, for the Golden Eagles, the team was able to match the largest lead of the game by the time the final buzzer sounded.
The Keelhualers quickly jumped out to a 6-0 advantage, as Toni Anaya connected on her first three field goals. But two consecutive 3-point field goals, by Melanie Henderson and Tina Fantroy, erased the lead, tying the score at 6-6.
The Golden Eagles continued their 12-2 run to take their first lead of the night, swinging the 6-point advantage in their favor on a field goal by Afolake Akingba. But as was the storyline of the game, the Keelhaulers answered a 12-2 run of their own to reclaim the lead, 20-16.
By the halftime break, the Keelhualers maintained their lead, going into the locker room with a 30-26 lead.
A basket by Joie Camalo pushed the lead back to six points for Cal Maritime, before La Sierra scored nine unanswered points to retake the lead, 35-32. After both teams exchanged the lead, a 3-point field goal by Maritime's Jennifer Keys, once again pushed their lead back to six points (48-42), with 10:17 to play.
But over the next 5-plus minutes of play, the Golden Eagles mounted a timely 13-3 run, and giving them a 55-51 lead. The Keelhaulers scored two quick baskets, tying the score at 55-55, with 3:40 remaining.
Akingba, off a nice feed from Henderson, gave La Sierra the lead for good, as they were able to keep the Keelhaulers scoreless over the final 3:40.
Over the final two minutes of play, Faith Fantroy and Tina Fantroy converted 4-of-6 free throws, and fittingly pushed the lead to 6-points, earning the women's basketball program their first trip to the Cal Pac Championship game.
Tina Fantroy led the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. Faith Fantroy added 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Melanie Henderson contributed 10 points and three rebounds in the victory.
It will be a first for both teams in Tuesday night's Cal Pac Championship game, as the University of California-Merced overcame a 22-point second half deficit, to knock off the No.1 seed and defending Cal Pac Champions, Menlo College.
The two teams split the regular season series, with each team winning on their home court. The Cal Pac Championship game will be played at California Maritime Academy, the host of this year's conference tournament. Tuesday night's championship game is scheduled for a 7:30pm start.
