Defense wins championships. The SRJC women’s basketball team proved it by beating the San Francisco City College Rams, 52-45, and shutting down the Rams’ best offensive weapons in the state championship, March 13. The Lady Bear Cubs’ state title is the first for women’s basketball since 1988.

The women won six games in a row to qualify for the state championship and beat some tough competition along the way.

The team beat Mt. San Antonio College in the state semi-finals despite a poor shooting performance by sophomore guard Mia Greco. However, freshmen guard Jennifer Tsurumoto stepped up by scoring a game-high 20 points.

Greco finishes the season as the team’s leading scorer averaging 13.9 ppg and Tsurumoto finishes right behind her, averaging 12.9 ppg. Greco also earned an All-State first team appearance this season.

During the state championship game, the Lady Bear Cubs held the Ram’s leading scorer Janis Peterson, who averaged 22.5 ppg during the season, to only three points the entire game. Peterson had no points during the first-half due to active and helpful defense by the Lady Bear Cubs.

“Our team defense is our best attribute and we need it if were going to win state,” head coach Lacey Campbell said before the game, which proved to be true.

Greco scored a game high 16 points and played huge down the stretch. She also had four assists in the game and looked determined to bring home a state title.

Tsurumoto played a significant role in the team’s state championship, scoring early and setting the pace for the rest of the game. Tsurumoto finished the game with 12 points.

The Rams’ starting center, Samantha Hunkin, looked to be a force inside, but Krysten Copeland and Marie Sweet had different plans. Hunkin earned three fouls in the first half caused by smart offensive decisions by Copeland and Sweet.

Once Hunkin left the game the Lady Bear Cubs took control by pushing the ball inside and harassing the post. Hunkin finished the game with two points, two rebounds, and four fouls.

Rebounding was a team effort with four players earning seven rebounds: Copeland, Sweet, Jade Hudson and Ashley Morgan. Morgan, who played a tough physical game, injured her right knee in the second half after colliding with Rams forward Shawnte Taylor. Morgan finished the game with six points.

Taylor was the lone offensive attack for the Rams, scoring teamhigh 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds. However, she missed big shots down the stretch, which helped the Lady Bear Cubs to victory.

The last time a team from Northern California won a state title was 1999. Earlier this season, the Rams beat the Lady Bear Cubs 69-58, so the team knew how hard it would be to accomplish.

“It would be monumental if we could bring home the first state title since 1988, but we know how tough the competition will be,” Campbell said before the game.

With Tsurumoto, Morgan, and Hudson returning next season to attempt another state championship run, the future season looks optimistic.