Women’s Basketball: CCC Holds Off SCC

Sylvia Valentino made a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining as the Raiders held on for a 75-71 win over Southeast Community College at the Raider Fieldhouse on Sunday.

Leading 55-50 entering the fourth quarter, the Raiders moved ahead by nine points over the first minute. The Bobcats responded by rattling off a 13-3 run over a five-minute span to take a 63-62 lead with four minutes remaining. With 2:41 to go, CCC and SCC were tied at 66 apiece. The Raiders then outscored the Bobcats, 7-2, to take a 73-68 advantage with 14 seconds remaining. Not to be outdone, SCC's Matalynn Campbell nailed a three-point bucket with six seconds to cut CCC's lead to 73-71. Valentino was fouled which sent her to the line to make the free throws that gave the Raiders a four-point lead, 75-71. CCC's Alyssa Reardon (pictured #12) put the final touch on CCC's victory when she stole the in-bounds pass.

Five CCC players scored in double figures with Nikie Nelson leading the way with 18 points. Makenna Pelster scored 16 points while Aubry Saleapaga chipped in 13 points. Reardon scored a dozen points and Valentino finished with 11 points.

"I thought we set the tone right away in the first quarter and knocked down some open three's early to get the lead," said CCC head coach Kasi Stoltz. "We executed some plays late and I thought Aubry got us some easy baskets in transition to get the lead back. Then we had Nikie and Sylvia step up and hit some clutch free throws at the end of the game."

With the victory, the Raiders are 4-20 heading into Monday's game against the Doane University JV. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Raider Fieldhouse.