NM State Aggies vs CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners Women’s Basketball 2-29-20

Steve and Jenny had prolonged their stay in town after the hockey game last week.  This Women’s Basketball game was going to be starting at the same time as the Aggie Baseball double header.  Ron wanted to see Senior Day at basketball.  I didn’t have any argument.  It was hoped Gia Pack would be back playing today.  Ron reported that at last night’s baseball game she’d thrown out the first pitch, but had limped on and off the field.  Indeed, she wasn’t suited up to play for the game.  That was disappointing.

As we came in, we were heralded by the Roadrunner Revue Band parading around the Pan-Am Center concourse.  It’s always nice to have fanfare when one enters a building.  There was also a cool free t-shirt giveaway.  These were advertised for the students attending, but they ended up being given to anybody coming.  Me and Jenny appreciated them.  It’s nice she’ll have something to take back to Arkansas.

On court, Coach Atkinson’s toddler son was getting lots of attention from the Cheerleaders.  (Before the game, I noticed one of them was wearing black nerdy glasses.  That was so hot.)  When the Aggies came out to warmup, the toddler immediately went over to see them, before a team assistant ran over to get him.  Beautiful Megan Hart and several players from the Volleyball team were in attendance.  I’d describe the crowd overall as being okay.  I noticed there were three female referees working the game.  They all looked bigger and tougher than the players on court, but would end up having a really rough game.  I’d remembered seeing that tall pretty brunette ref with long straight hair before.         

I’d also noticed a gorgeous young woman operating a hand-held camera directly below us.  When she turned around, I got a good look at her.  Gasp!  It was Aggie Soccer star, Aileen Galicia.  This was surprising to say the least because she’d been a senior the last time I’d seen her playing in 2018 (10-27-18).  I didn’t talk to her there at her Senior Day and I’d also blown a couple of opportunities to talk to her afterward.  She didn’t do anything wrong.  I was just afraid to talk to her, even though I’d talked to her a couple of times after games and she was very nice.  It was absolutely painful seeing her for the whole game.  I didn’t consider this an ill omen, but still, ouch.

I was getting over a cold today.  There were a couple spots during the game where I felt I was tiring a bit and couldn’t concentrate.  Imagine my surprise that I’d actually gotten the scoring correct.  This was without the benefit of the scoreboard working during the game and basically missing the postgame recap on the radio.  (It’s probably a good thing that they’re getting a new scoreboard in the future, but I notice its always working correctly for the Men’s games.)  Admittedly, I did miss-add what I’d scored at first, but it was correct. 

First Quarter

I’d noticed Kate Tokuhara for Bakersfield during the player introductions.  Her teammates were doing an Oriental ritual bow to her.  Later in play, I’d figure out why they were honoring her.  For my part, I was watching her because she’s very pretty and downright sexy when playing.  [Edit: I forgot to put up a picture.  When I went looking for one, I found a WAC video about her.  This girl is amazing and has had some terrible misfortune over her playing career.]  Sometimes I think I’m there to watch the game, but apparently I’m really just there girl-watching.  In any case, my first game note was that Kate got knocked over by Soufia Inoussa for the first foul of the game.

It was a nervous start for both teams.  There were lots of traveling calls as part of that.  The first score was a miracle, literally a basket by Miracle Saxon for CSUB.  Micayla Buckner got the first Aggie basket underneath the goal.  AD Mario Moccia came in.  He chatted with the Volleyball team, before settling in to watch the game.  He was here for the senior ceremony later.  The Roadrunners cycled in Dalis Jones.  Adam Young on the radio call referred to the hard-not-to-notice 5’2” player being in just for her defense as a steal artist.  That would turn out to only be a half-correct assessment for her abilities. 

Dee Dee Echols put in a three to put the Aggies up 9-4 as part of a run.  I finally found out I’d been spelling her name wrong all this time.  The program always lists her as Rodrea.  Her announced name, I’ve been writing as “Didi.”  Good thing I was able to correct that in the senior’s last home game.  Bakersfield closed back in at the end of the quarter to make it 11-9. 

Second Quarter

Dino Dash was a bit deflated in the break.  One of the contestants was a bit limp for the contest.  That wasn’t the best way for this spectacle to go out.  CSUB came out fouling.  They picked up three in the first minute-and-a-half before anyone had scored.  Amanda Soderqvist came in for the Aggies, but missed a couple of jumpers.  Bakersfield would pick up their fourth and fifth fouls before the quarter had gone halfway through to put the Aggies in the bonus. 

Micayla got a big rebound in the lane.  She dished to Soufia, who made a fake, then got the bucket.  Micayla then put on her own moves to get a basket next time down.  It looked pretty.  15-10 Aggies with 6 minutes left.  The bonus situation didn’t hurt the Roadrunners as the Aggies missed four straight foul shots.  CSUB also nearly managed to fake out the referees on a ball going out to try and retain possession. 

Right before the end of the half, the Aggies got sloppy.  Kate made two steals on the last two possessions.  She made a finger-roll layup on the first, but flat missed a layup on the second.  The biggest and tallest person inside the Pan-Am was Gregg McCall, former NBA player and the Bakersfield coach.  He gave Kate a big hug after the horn, as she seemed a bit upset.  I’ll guess he’s nice to his girls when he sees the effort regardless of the result.  21-20 Aggies at the half.

Halftime

There was no halftime show, but the Band did play a couple of numbers.  I went to the bathroom.  When I came back, the Volleyball team was gone.  Ron said they went up the player tunnel.  Did they all go to the bathroom together?  (Actually, they’d left altogether.)  There was a new clip on the video board.  It was a dance scene from Napoleon Dynamite.  (I haven’t seen the movie.  I only recognized it enough to identify it.)  I only mention this at all because two little girls at courtside were exactly mirroring the dancing on the screen.  It was adorable.

 

Third Quarter

If Kate had felt bad about the layup, she made up for it with a three for the first shot of the second half.  Amanda answered it immediately.  Both then missed threes on the next trips.  (That was it for Amanda for the game.  She is really not seeing the hoop well lately.) 

Aaliyah Prince and Kate then had a tie-up over a rebound.  The Aggies had been doing well rebounding in the game.  Micayla and then Tayelin Grays picked up their third fouls and had to come out.  It was hard not to notice Aaliyah’s red shoes with orange soles.  I’m not sure if they were new or not, but they made her faster.  She went coast-to-coast with afterburners for the layup and the foul to make it 29-25 with 6 minutes left. 

CSUB was staying with the Aggies.  Kate had another steal, this one on an inbounds.  The Aggies then got their fifth team foul with Adrianna Henderson’s third foul, which put the Roadrunners in the bonus.  Soufia fearlessly tied up with a much larger player to take us into a break.  Pistol Pete came up into the stands and danced with a couple of little girls while Aileen put it up on the video board. 

Out of the break, Micayla got hit with a technical.  She’d made what looked like a mild comment to a ref on a possession call on a ball going out.  I don’t know what she said, but she wasn’t angry or verbose about it.  Regardless, that was her fourth.  Undaunted, Aaliyah got a block.  She’d miss a layup on the way back, but Soufia was there to clean it up for the score.  Henderson then drained an open three.  36-29 Aggies 2 minutes left.  Timeout CSUB.

Pete tossed a t-shirt to the dancing girls down in the front row.  It was way too big for either of them, so they both wore together for the rest of the game.  It was too darling.  This happened next to Aileen, so she put them on camera a couple of times and even sat next to them. 

The Aggies came back going with full court pressure and got a turnover.  Dee Dee made a great feed to freshman Shania Harper, who’d just come in, under the basket for a layup.  Roadrunner Andie Easley came back with a three.  That was, get this, the Roadrunners’ only other field goal of the quarter (along with Kate’s at the beginning).  If you’re wondering though, Andie and Dalis had 10 free throw points in this quarter.  41-36 Aggies after 30 minutes.    

Fourth Quarter

The quarter started with a bad inbounds by the Roadrunners.  The ball got loose and Aaliyah took it in for a layup.  On an Aggie inbounds, she tripped, but kept up her dribble in what Adam referred to as a “Harlem Globetrotters-like play.”  The refs didn’t see it that way and called a travel.  After two more quick questionable calls on the Aggies, the crowd was in an uproar.  Someone summed it up as “Three blind mice.” 

Andie got a steal off Prince and an out-of-bounds save.  The Aggies picked up their fifth foul with seven minutes left.  41-40 Aggies.  Kate got another steal.  Another Aggie turnover was initiated by the refs.  The crowd was booing full out now.  Coach Atkinson was giving a ref an earful.  Kate hit a three to tie it at 47 with five minutes left.  She then caused a steal that led to a three by Dalis to give the Roadrunners the lead.  (I was inwardly applauding.  I’d picked the right opposing player to crush on.)

Adam reported that during the break, the coach had shown one of the refs a stat sheet about how one-sided the fouls were in the second half.  I think the Roadrunners had gotten rung up in the second quarter quite a bit.  If there was some sort of makeup calling going on (which there never should be), they overdid it.  The first half had flown by, but all the fouls were slowing the game way down.  There were so many calls, maybe it was hard to keep track. 

After the break, Kate got a steal and a layup.  (She really did look good out there playing.)  52-51 CSUB 2:18 to go.  Henderson fouled out.  Prince fell down on court trying to draw a foul.  Dalis was left open and the 5’2” defensive specialist hit another three.  I won’t say what happened next was the turning point, but Dalis was then called for her fifth foul.  She was in disbelief as she left the game. 

Tayelin missed two free throws.  She then tripped Andie, didn’t get called for it (as Adam noted), got the ball, and made a layup.  55-53 CSUB 1:43 to go.  Aaliyah got another block.  This lead to a fast break from Soufia to Taylin for a layup.  55 all.  The crowd was now into it.  1:00 remaining.  Timeout CSUB.  Jayden Eggleston had a nearly uncontested layup to put the Roadrunners back up by 2.  I think the Aggies were more surprised than anyone that there wasn’t a foul called anyway. 

Dee Dee answered with a bunny in the lane to tie it again with 27 seconds left.  The Roadrunners missed their shot.  The Aggies came back and took a timeout with 7 seconds left.  They got two open shots in that time, but didn’t connect with either.  57-57 as regulation expired.

Overtime

There’s no OT slot on the scorecard.  I wasn’t quite sure what to do other than mark it down on the fourth quarter.  No screwing around by the Aggies here.  Soufia knocked down a three and Tayelin caught a downcourt pass for a layup, 62-57.  On the Roadrunners’ next possession, there was a dispute about the time on the shot clock.  It should have reset for them after a shot hit the rim.  Instead the refs had to go to replay to figure it out.  Adam never said they were doing a bad job in the game, but by this point, he was clearly exasperated with them.     

Andie was taking all of the Roadrunner shots in the overtime.  She was questionably fouled on a three attempt and converted on all three shots.  (Honestly, the refs had probably let a few fouls go early in the OT.  Just letting them play maybe?)  Soufia was fouled, but missed both shots.  64-62 Aggies 1 minute remaining. 

Next for the Roadrunners, Jayden got two shots under the basket.  Both went into the cylinder and rimmed out.  That may have actually been the pivotal play.  Lou Henson Court itself didn’t want the Aggies losing on Senior Day.  20 seconds left, Tayelin was fouled the next time she touched the ball.  This time, she made both.  66-62 Aggies.  Dee Dee caused a turnover and was immediately fouled and made one to ice it.  Aggies win 67-62.

The first comment about the game should be about the refereeing.  Both teams have reason to complain.  This was a contest between two .500 in conference teams with the Aggies having an edge because they were at home.  The result was likely to be a close Aggie win.  So, I don’t know if the refereeing affected the outcome, but it definitely affected how the teams played.  I suspect WAC officials will be looking back at this game and questioning the crew.

Gameballs.  For the Roadrunners, Andie Easley led with 15 points, 9 at the nail.  “Defensive specialist” Dalis Jones had 14.  Teams should probably change their book and start guarding her.  Kate Tokuhara had 10 points and several steals.  She was a bundle of hustle.  I’m bowing (and inviting her to stay here and move in with me).  For the Aggies, Aaliyah Prince had 20 points and 10 rebounds and was the obvious star of game.  She was the only Aggie scoring in double-digits, but the rest of the team was like a hydra making big baskets and plays.  Losing Gia wasn’t good for the team’s record, but it’s certainly made them better players.         

The Senior Day ceremony was afterward.  Micayla Buckner, Dee Dee Echols, Adenike Aderinto, and Gia Pack were honored.  Unlike other times I’ve seen these ceremonies, the opposing team’s seniors were not mentioned.  Did they forget?  Did the Roadrunners leave the court too quick?  Is there bad blood?  (Gia went out and hugged a couple of their players afterward.)  They’re leaving the conference anyway after this year.    

          

Gia brought out her whole extended family with her to receive her framed jersey.  She also had a large list of accomplishments, including that WAC Tournament MVP and scoring record.  (Just announcing all of her relatives took a while too.)  On the sidelines, Harper was trying to corral the coach’s toddler son.  It was a losing battle for her. (Don’t feel bad.  Brooke Salas finally met her match on court with the kid, 11-13-19.)  Coach Atkinson came out and gave nice motivational and congratulatory speech to the players and the fans.  Gia spoke for all of the seniors and thanked everyone. 

With that, Ron, Jenny, and I went out for lunch and missed out on baseball for the rest of the day.  Still, that was pretty exciting.  This was a great way to end the live season for me with Aggie Women’s Basketball.  I feel a bit more optimistic about their chances in the tournament.