Women’s State Community College Basketball Tournament : San Mateo Keeps the Score, but Not Golden West, Down in First Round

Golden West College advanced in the women’s state community college basketball tournament Thursday despite playing one of its poorest games of the season.

Golden West gained a 50-41 victory over San Mateo Thursday in the first round at American River College.

Golden West plays Long Beach at 6 tonight in one semifinal. Long Beach defeated Golden West, 94-82, two weeks ago to end the Rustlers’ 27-game winning streak. Long Beach beat Ohlone, 81-79 in overtime Thursday.

Starting sophomore guards Jeannine Battaglia (six points) and Kim Takayama (three points) scored season lows as did Golden West (32-1). Battaglia was averaging 15 points a game and Takayama 10. Battaglia was 2 of 15 from the field and Takayama was 0 of 9.

Golden West, the state’s top-ranked team, was averaging 89 points a game before the tournament.

Part of Golden West’s trouble came in adjusting to San Mateo’s slow pace.

“Boy I’m glad that’s over,” said Dick Stricklin, Golden West Coach. “That was a horrible game to have to just sit there and watch. I guess we just never got used to playing at a slower pace.”

Golden West got the slight lift it needed from reserve guard Kris Takayama, Kim’s sister, and starting forward Jane Utu. Takayama scored a game-high 16 points, including two three-point baskets. Utu had game-high 16 rebounds.

Golden West led, 40-30, with 8:46 left on a basket by Kris Takayama and seemed in control. But San Mateo scored six consecutive points in the next two minutes.

San Mateo was unable to get closer than six, however. Kris Takayama made a three-pointer to give Golden West a 47-38 lead with 2:10 left and Utu made three free throws in the final minute.

“That was the best Jane (Utu) has played in a while,” Stricklin said. “She and Kris (Takayama) were the difference.”

San Mateo opened a 10-4 lead in the first five minutes before Golden West got its first basket--a 10-foot jump shot by Battaglia.

Battaglia’s basket started Golden West on 15-3 run and the Rustlers led, 19-13, with 5:21 left in the half. Kris Takayama had six points and Kathy Werth four during the run. Golden West led, 25-20, at the half.

Elanor Wells led San Mateo with 16 points and Tracy McCray had 10. San Mateo ends, 25-7.

In other first-round games:

Santa Rosa 70, Fullerton 61--Fullerton trailed, 39-24, at the half and cut the lead to two twice in the second half, but the Hornets were never able to pull even.

Santa Rosa led, 45-31, with 14:45 left, but then Fullerton finally got going. The Hornets outscored Santa Rosa, 14-4, to cut the lead to 49-45 with 10:52 left. Fullerton also trailed, 51-49, with 8:25 left but could get no closer.

Santa Rosa then turned to its best player, center Tina Gren. Gren, who averaged 19 points a game and was the Camino Norte Conference’s most valuable player, scored 8 consecutive points and Santa Rosa led, 59-49.

Gren ended with a game-high 24 points, including 12 in the second half. LaNell Ellison scored 12 and Kelly Maribeth 10 for Santa Rosa (24-6).

While Santa Rosa was on its run, Fullerton went 3:07 without a basket.

Ronette McWeeney made a layup and was fouled with 5:18 left to cut the Santa Rosa lead to, 61-51. Fullerton called its final timeout before McWeeney shot the free throw. She missed, and Santa Rosa then scored six more points and led, 67-51, with 3:32 left.

Santa Rosa, the only team from the north left, plays Los Angeles Valley in one semifinal tonight at 8.

Valley defeated Merritt, 56-54, Friday.

Santa Rosa made its first five shots and led, 12-2, three minutes into the game. The lead increased to 18-4 and 20-6 before Fullerton was able to get back in the game.