WBB | Vikings Women beat SRJC, 86-82 in overtime, after near heartbreak on sophomore night

PLEASANT HILL -- Diablo Valley bids farewell to the seven sophomores on this year's roster: Julia Alexander, Peatrice Beattie, Sabrea Coleman, Jophiea Irvin, Taiyla Jackson, Soraya Page, Keaira Scott, and Elska Vavrova.

Sabrea Coleman led the Vikings with 31 points, 6 assists and 9 steals on Sophomore Night as DVC beat Santa Rosa 86-82 in overtime.  Brooke Santander (25 points off the bench) and Jenna Dunbar (22) keyed a furious Santa Rosa fightback from an early deficit 20-point deficit, but the Vikings seemed to have righted the ship in the final minutes.  The joy over Coleman's apparent game-winning layup with just seconds to go in regulation turned to horror, however, as a curious Raeona Ford foul allowed the Bear Cubs a chance to win the game at the line, but Jenna Dunbar was unable to convert.

In the first half, the Vikings rode massive advantages on the glass and in the turnover battle to a 44-27 halftime lead.  The major highlight was an early 20-2 DVC run keyed by four three-pointers from four different Vikings (Ford, Coleman, Soraya Page and Julia Alexander).  Coleman's 13 points and 3 steals paced the team, but nine Vikings were on the scoresheet by halftime, while Taiyla Jackson contributed 5 of her 9 rebounds to the effort.  On the Bear Cubs side, starting guard Alicia Mehtlan's 10 first-half points and Brooke Santander's 8 off the bench helped Santa Rosa regain their footing.

Coach Lacey Campbell's SRJC team came out of the break hot though, as Jenna Dunbar's 7 points in four minutes cut the Vikings lead to 13, and a subsequent 24-7 Bear Cub run keyed by 13 points from Santander would make it a one-point game with 7:30 to play.  Sabrea Coleman responded with a coast-to-coast drive for a bucket and a hard foul to push the Viking lead back to four, and moments later blocked an attempt moments later by Taylor Graham for a fast-break lay-in.  Santander, though, would time and again pull the game close, and with four minutes left, Mehtlan hit a pair of free throws to give the Bear Cubs their first lead at 66-65.  

After another Coleman "and-one" pushed the Vikings back in front, Santa Rosa took back the lead with just over a minute to play on a drive by Niambi St. Louis.  And again, Coleman answered with a coast-to-coast layup with 59 seconds left putting the Vikings up 74-73.  A loose-ball foul by Jopheia Irvin put Mehtlan back at the line with 37 seconds left where she converted both ends of a one-and-one to give the Bear Cubs the lead at 75-74.  After a Coleman entry pass was picked off by St. Louis (her fourth steal of the game), the Vikings were forced to foul, but Jenna Dunbar missed the front half of the one-and-one.  

On the ensuing possession, Coleman drove the left side of the lane for a gorgeous lay-in, seeming to give the Vikings a 76-75 win before Ford, in a moment of sheer madness, fouled Dunbar with 1.7 seconds left.  Dunbar missed the first of the two free throws but hit the second to force overtime.

In the extra period, Coleman immediately seized control, with an assist, a free throw and two steals inside the first 90 seconds before drilling a three-pointer and converting both ends of a one-and-one to put the Vikings up five.  After two Dunbar free throws, it was a one-possession game inside the final minute, but the Bear Cubs never found that last bucket they needed.  One last Coleman steal on the final Bear Cub possession gave her a chance to ice the game at the line, which she did, hitting one of two free throws. 

The Vikings travel to Modesto to finish off the regular season on Friday.  With Delta College's win this evening, DVC must win to earn a share of the Big 8 conference title.

Story contribution by Joe Hickey

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Marvin and J.M. Images