Crucial game falls to Brahmas

When Pierce College‘s Tierra Battle swatted down a three-point attempt by Moorpark College guard Molly Carson at the buzzer, she not only put the exclamation point on the Brahmas’ 97-92 victory over the Raiders, but summed up the past 40 minutes in that one instant.

Carson had lit up the Brahmas for 30 points last night in the South Gym, but could not put the Moorpark over the top as Pierce drew closer to the third place position and a possible playoff spot.

“My shot was on but it really doesn’t matter,” said Carson. “We didn’t win. In my opinion, I would rather score zero and get the win than score 30 and lose. It’s horrible.”

Prior to the game, sophomore center Tiara Richardson expressed to her team the importance of defeating the Raiders, as well as the dire consequences should Pierce College come away with a loss.

“I told them that we needed to win or we’re not going to the playoffs,” she said. “And everybody wants to go to the next level.

“I realized that we needed to win this game. There was no losing after losing to Ventura. We had to win so I had to step up.”

Richardson and the Brahmas did step up, scoring early and often in the game’s first half, but so did the Raiders as they matched Pierce shot for shot en route to a 43-36 Brahma lead at halftime.

It was in then that Carson reared her head, knocking down an unprecedented seven three-pointers in the half and scoring 26 of her 30 points after the break, 17 of which came in the first six minutes.

“When your shot’s on, your shot’s on and your teammates are finding you,” she said. “You’re doing the right things, but like I said, I’d rather take the win. We wanted second place and this is how we had to do it. We had to beat Pierce.”

Pierce found its answer to Carson‘s performance in Richardson. The center posted 29 points on the night despite playing nearly the entire game with a hurt knee and a considerable portion of the second half with four fouls.

“That’s the hardest thing to do – to play with four fouls and keep the intensity up,” Richardson explained. “They’re looking to drive into you. They’re looking for you to get that fifth foul. I had to play smart. I had to give up some shots. Luckily they didn’t make the shots that I gave up, but I had to give them up.”

Guards Tessondra Williams and Bridget Jenkins joined Richardson in the 20-point bracket, Williams posting an even 20 and Jenkins scoring 25 including a three-pointer with 2:20 remaining to play, bringing the lead to four points, and setting up a run of seven consecutive Brahma points which would put the nail in the Raiders’ coffin.

“Without Bridget tonight, we wouldn’t have won,” said head coach Jim Couch. “She played a hell of a game. By far, she was my MVP tonight.”

But with a balanced attack all night long, Couch sees a change in his team that he hopes will last the remainder of the season and into the postseason.

“The great players play with even temper,” he said. “The great teams play with even flow. I think we’re there.”

The victory over Moorpark, now with a record of 6-3 in the Western State Conference Northern Division, inches the Brahmas (5-3) to within half a game of third place.

Second place Santa Barbara City College (7-2) ensured they would not lose ground to Pierce as they defeated Cuesta College, 70-49. The Brahmas trail Santa Barbara by two and a half games.

First place Ventura College, undefeated at 8-0 in conference and 27-0 overall, did not play Saturday, the Brahmas pulling to within three games of the Vaqueros with four left to play.

With the pendulum of momentum swung back to Pierce’s favor, Williams and the Brahmas look forward to a bout with Santa Barbara Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the South Gym as they attempt to narrow the gap between them and second place to a game and a half.

“We’re ready for Santa Barbara,” exclaimed the guard. “I want to play them so bad.”

The Brahmas will also be scoreboard watching Wednesday night as Ventura visits Moorpark in yet another game with postseason implications. That game is also scheduled at 7 p.m.