Fuqua Tosses in 32 points as RCC Posts an 80-75 Win Over Sacramento in Gilcrest Tournament

VISALIA -- Overcoming foul trouble and a sizable first-half deficit, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's basketball team came from behind to post an 80-75 win over the Sacramento City College (SCC) Panthers in a consolation quarterfinal game of the 38th Annual Tom Gilcrest Invitational Tournament at historic Moro Gymnasium (circa 1946) on the campus of the College of the Sequoias.

Riverside (7-3 overall) fell behind, 17-4, with 12:04 to play in the first half before narrowing the gap to only 34-33 at halftime.

RCC sophomore point guard Tierra Fuqua (Moreno Valley / Rancho Verde HS) tossed in 14 first-half points to help the Tigers overcome a nine-for-28 field goal shooting performance.

Midway through the second half, RCC took the lead for good at 53-50 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Tamara Herring (Riverside / Citrus Hill '12) with 10:22 to play.

Down the stretch, playing with four personal fouls, Fuqua kept the Panthers at bay with an assortment of twisting layins, as well as free throws. Fuqua finished with a game-high 32 points, along with seven rebounds, four assists and six steals.

Frosh guard Jordan Lofton (Riverside / M.L. King '14) chipped in with 17 points and sophomore center Tori Mitchell (Riverside / Poly '12) added 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for RCC.

With the win, the Tigers have matched their win total from last season (2013-14) when they finished 7-19 overall.

"I've been waiting a long time for this win," said RCC head coach Alicia Berber, who is in her 14th season at the helm of the Tigers.  

For Sacramento City (1-7 overall), Aleea Reese came off the bench to pop in a team-high 20 points and pull down a team-high eight rebounds.

With the win, the Tigers remain alive in the tournament and will face the winner between the Cerritos College Falcons and the Porterville College Pirates on Satuewrday, Dec. 6, in a consolation semifinal game (of the 16-team tournament) at 10 a.m. in Porter Fieldhouse (newer gym).

-30-