Fuqua Scores Game-winning Layin as Tigers Shade Fullerton, 55-54

RIVERSIDE -- Tierra Fuqua drove for the game-winning layin with three seconds to play to lift the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's basketball team to a 55-54 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) win over the Fullerton College Hornets (FC) Wednesday evening (Jan. 7) at historic Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside (12-5 overall, 1-0 OEC) jumped out to a 20-4 lead midway through the first half en route to a 31-17 halftime lead.

But Fullerton (11-5, 0-1 OEC) overcame its first-half shooting difficulties (six of 34, 17.6%), strung together an 11-0 run to take a 47-41 lead with 6:23 to play.

It seemed hopeless for the Tigers, who trailed, 54-50, with 26 seconds to play before sophomore guard Tamara Herring (Riverside / Citrus Hill HS '12) drained a three-pointer from the left side with 18 seconds left to pull RCC to within 54-53.

After a Fullerton turnover, RCC called timeout at halfcourt with six seconds to play, before Herring's perfect inbounds pass and Fuqua's slash to the basket and ensuing layin gave RCC the win.

Herring finished with a team-high 15 points and added eight rebounds and four assists. Fuqua, a sophomore guard from Moreno Valley - Rancho Verde HS '13, added 14 points six rebounds and five assists.

For Fullerton, sophomore forward Noelle Cobb (Maryville, TN) pumped in a game-high 16 points and added a team-high six rebounds. Frosh guard Emilee Dy (Diamond Ranch HS) had 15 points and five assists. Sophomore forward Yana Pollard (Mendham, NJ) had five blocked shots, five rebounds, four assists and three points.

With the win, Riverside will continue OEC action on Friday, Jan. 9, when it visits the Cypress College Chargers in a 5 p.m. tipoff.

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