San Bernardino ends Stanislaus season at CCAA basketball tournament

The Cal State Stanislaus women were not yet born the last time the Warriors won a postseason game.

The year was 1990 when they knocked off UC Davis in the NCAA Regionals. One year later, they lost to UC San Diego, the last time Stanislaus welcomed an opponent into its home in the postseason.

Until Tuesday night, that is, when the Warriors met Cal State San Bernardino at Fitzpatrick Arena. Stanislaus understood the history at stake in the first round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.

It was a chance missed.

San Bernardino won the rubber match between the teams 76-66. The Coyotes, who finished two games behind the fourth-place Warriors, used a 41-27 rebounding advantage and a lethal 22 of 26 free throws to shake off an early nine-point deficit.

When it ended, Stanislaus (16-11) slapped hands with its fans and walked off the floor for the last time. No Warrior team enjoyed this much success in 13 years, but …

“It’s a heartbreak,” said guard Alysa Valentine, one of two seniors on the roster. “We understand we made history here. We did some things that were very special. It would have been even better if we kept it going.”

Instead, San Bernardino (14-12) advances to the CCAA semifinals against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday night at Stockton Arena. For the Warriors, the short trip up Highway 99 must seem like light-years away.

“We really had difficulties taking care of the ball and getting quality shots,” fourth-year Stanislaus coach Wayman Strickland said. “They were able to get the right person the right shot at the right time.”

Stanislaus’ good start faded against a physical and experienced team. All San Bernardino points came from seniors, none bigger than former Los Banos High star Brianna Harden (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Adriana Brodie (18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 of 10 free throws).

All the important rebounds were clutched by the Coyotes, who trailed 34-29 at halftime but relentlessly reeled in the Warriors in the second half. The 5-foot-2 Valentine finished with 13 points, but she accounted for all but two of the points by Stanislaus seniors.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Cassidy Sanders Curry (15 points) pushed the Stanislaus lead to 53-49 with 8:40 left. A Riley Holladay free throw inched the Warriors in front 56-55 with 5:25 left. From that point, San Bernardino dominated.

“You expect seniors … to find a way,” San Bernardino coach Sue Crebbin said. “We started the game really slow, but we kept building momentum along the way.”

A triple by Alexcia Mack and a jump shot and three-pointer by Harden changed the momentum. San Bernardino, bothered by the Stanislaus press in the first half, found its rhythm with the lead.

The Coyotes, the CCAA’s best free-throw shooting team (76 percent), were even better against Stanislaus. When the Warriors were forced to foul, they watched glumly while San Bernadino slammed the door with 12 straight from the line in the final minute.

“They just physically moved us around. We need to learn to adapt to that,” Valentine said. “Our team needs to get stronger, and that comes with time. Any older player knows it comes to that.”

Backup guard Ana Burch gave Stanislaus a lift in the first half en route to 11 points, and Reana Hardin had 10. Stanislaus, 10-3 at home, took significant steps this season, a fact not lost on Strickland.

“We’ve done a great thing. Our future is going to be bright,” he said. “I’m hoping we’ll continue to recruit the Valley strongly and get quality young female student-athletes and make Stanislaus State women’s basketball a program to be reckoned with for years to come.”

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 12:21 AM with the headline "San Bernardino ends Stanislaus season at CCAA basketball tournament."