The women’s basketball team fell against Santa Rosa Junior College on Feb.9 during their last home game of the season.

In the first quarter of this Big 8 division match up, the Hawks were not able to find the bottom of the basket. They were taking contested shots, resulting in empty possessions.

They also struggled to get defensive stops and allowed the Bear Cubs to go on a 12-0 run in the first five minutes of the period.

Despite the offensive dry spell, the Hawks were pounding the paint despite the Bear Cubs’ strong defensive presence.

“I thought we got on the foul line a lot more this game, so the aggressiveness was there,” Hawk’s assistant coach Jasmine Chapman said.

After attacking the paint for several possessions, Hawks’ guard Erica Oswald ended the Bear Cubs’ run with a much needed jump shot.

The Hawks were able to get a few more baskets by getting to the foul line but not enough to put them over.

The main focal point of Hawks game was their defense during the majority of the game.

The Bear Cubs did not shoot a lot of three-point shots so the bulk of their points came from the paint.

The Hawks were able to respond swarming the paint. Every time the Bear Cubs would make a pass inside, the Hawks were there to intercept the passing lanes.

These mistakes by the Bear Cubs resulted in many transition points for the Hawks.

“A lot of the times they allowed us to get fast break points,” Chapman said. “The team was just too tired to capitalize on a lot of their mistakes.”

The Hawks were also playing with only five players active, causing their starters to play the whole length of the game. Hawks players were able to avoid fouls while playing tremendous defense.

“I thought we played really well. We had a lot of unity. We played hard,” Hawks head coach Coral Sage said. “Even though we lost on the scoreboard, I don’t feel the loss as much as the other games.”

This was the last time the Hawk’s sophomores will be playing for their home crowd. Hawks guard Trina Shaner and forward Quoquese Jackson were given a proper send

off for their last home game. Shaner and Jackson were able to say a few words after the game.

“I love my teammates, and they helped me with so much more than basketball,” Jackson said. “This season was tough but we fought through it as a team and it has been great.”

Jackson said she will spend her free time resting, looking into new hobbies and working more.

“I’m going to miss [basketball] and my teammates a lot,” Shaner said. “We all held together so well from what we have been through this season.”