Eagle women are 9-3 after exciting come-from-behind win at home

The Eagle women had their fans roaring as they came from behind to defeat Cosumnes River last Tuesday in Weed, 66-58.

Ranked 13th in the most recent north region poll, the Eagles improved their pre-season record to 9-3 heading into a nine-day break. It was the first loss of the season for 14th ranked Cosumnes River, which has won twice since and is now 8-1.

Typical of the way they've played this season, the Eagles ran the floor, outrebounded their opponent (41-30), forced turnovers (24), and committed a few more turnovers (26) than they'd like.

Sophomore Karli Reynolds and freshman Samantha Freitas scored 16 points each, sophomore Alexus Woodard scored 10, sophomore Asia Hendrix 9, freshman Trinity Gibson 7, sophomore Breanne Hands 4, freshman Ella Sannar 2, and freshman Grace Hubbard 2.

Hands, Hendrix, Freitas, and Sannar all had 7 rebounds each, and Woodard had 6. Freitas had 7 assists, Hands 5, and Tatum Allen 3.

Reynolds, who leads the team with 14.2 points per game and a 36 percent success rate on three-pointers, shot lights out against Cosumnes River. She was 6 for 9 from the field and was the only Eagle to have much success from beyond the arc, making 3 of her 6 attempts from long distance. The rest of the team was a combined 1 for 14 on three-pointers.

"Karli has been playing very well," said head coach Noelle Collier. "She was good at the Napa Tournament and made all-tourney."

Collier praised Freitas for having a good game "taking it to the basket" against Cosumnes River.

The Eagles led 32-27 at the half, fell behind while getting outscored 24-15 in the third quarter, then finished with a 19-7 run.

Cosumnes River hadn't beat any top teams but has been the top scoring team in the state, averaging about 85 points per game. "They were pretty good," said Collier. "They're athletic and long, and they have some big girls down there. To come back in the second half like that, it was a good win for us."

It was one of three games the Eagles have won against strong teams in the early going, including a 71-58 win over 12th ranked San Jose City (8-2) on the first night of the Napa Tournament Dec. 1.

"We had our best start of the season against San Jose," said Collier. "We got a 20-point lead and kept it all game." The Eagles led 24-8 after the first quarter, were up 42-22 at the half, and finished with 45 rebounds to San Jose's 25.

The Eagles had their only one-sided loss the next night against 7th ranked Sierra. They fell behind 29-15 in the first quarter, made only 4 of 24 three-point tries, and lost 70-49. Sierra has a 6-4 record, but has only lost to top teams, including Butte (13-1), the No. 2 team in the state, twice to North No. 4 San Francisco (7-3), and North No. 5 Fresno City (9-2).

So far, the Eagles are doing what Collier hoped they'd do this pre-season: they're beating the teams they should beat and getting some wins against good teams. And, as usual, they're doing most of it on the road.

"We're progressing nicely," said Collier. "Our passing needs work, but when we're running the floor well, we're playing our game and getting possessions with fast points. Our shooting percentage (38 percent on field goals, 24.8 percent on threes) is not great. We're streaky, but they're working hard. If we're not shooting well, we usually figure it out. And we're focusing on rebounds."

They've been especially good getting offensive rebounds that lead to extra shot attempts, while "doing a good job only giving other teams one chance," Collier said.

The Eagles are averaging 18 offensive rebounds per game, which is 8th best in the state and second best in the North. They're also 3rd in the North and 12th in the state in total rebounds per game (47.5), and they're first in the state in Rebound Margin Per Game (22.9).

They're averaging 71 points per game on 72.5, but they rank 65th in the state with 20 turnovers per game. "We need to work on the mental errors," said Collier, which she somewhat attributes to nerves. "Relax and we're OK."

Hendrix leads the team with 8.9 rebounds per game and a 53.9 field goal percentage that is the best among Golden Valley Conference players, as is her total of 89 rebounds. It's no surprise she leads the team in rebounding. She did that last year, too. But it is unusual that so many of her rebounds (56) have come off the offensive glass.

Collier likes how this year's freshmen are rebounding, too. Case in point was the play of Ella Sannar against Cosumnes River. "She got quite a few minutes because of her rebounding in the second half. That was huge for us," Collier said of Sannar, who finished the game with 7 rebounds, 2 on the offensive side. She also contributed a block, a steal, an assist, and made the only shot she attempted.

Freshman Grace Hubbard, who is tied with Sannar for third on the team with 60 total rebounds, is, like Hendrix, getting more rebounds on offense than defense, by a margin of 33-27.

Another freshman, Freitas, is second on the team with 66 total rebounds.

Hands ranks first among GVC players in steals (27), second in assists (57), fourth in field goal percentage (44.6), and sixth in points per game (12.9). She leads the team in points scored (155), assists (57) and steals (27).

Reynolds is fourth in the GVC in points per game (14.2), tied for fourth in steals (21), fifth in three-point percentage (36.0), and seventh in field goal percentage. She's second on team in points scored (142).

Hendrix ranks first in the GVC in field goal percentage (53.9), fourth in rebounds per game (8.9), and first in total offensive rebounds. She averages 10 points per game.

Freitas is ninth in the GVC in rebounds and fifth in assists (38), one ahead of Tatum Allen. Hubbard is tied for third in the GVC in offensive rebounds. Sannar is tied for fifth in GVC for blocks (6). Woodard is averaging 9.4 points per game and ranks 11th in field goal percentage (41.0) among GVC players. Allen is seventh in the GVC in assists (37) and tied for ninth in steals (17).

The Eagles are averaging 70.8 points per game, which is second only to Butte among GVC teams.

Unfortunately, the GVC will have one fewer team than usual when conference play begins in January. Feather River has dropped its women's basketball program for the season after playing seven pre-season games.

That means the Eagles' already-slight home court schedule will be reduced by one. They have just four home games remaining, all during GVC play.

Their pre-season schedule continues on the road this Thursday at Folsom Lake (6-4), one of seven teams in the Big 8 Conference with a winning record.

The Eagles will play at the Cabrillo Tournament Friday and Saturday and at the San Jose Tournament Dec. 28-30. They'll open conference play Jan. 10 at Shasta (7-6), which has the third-best winning percentage among GVC teams, then return for home games Jan. 17 against Butte and Jan. 20 against Lassen.

By Steve Gerace