Box Score Thousand Oaks, CA— The Oxy women's basketball team traveled to Thousand Oaks to take on the California Lutheran University Regals in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship.
Oxy scored the 1st point of the game when Toni Thompson knocked down a free throw due to a technical foul charged to Cal Lutheran due to part failure. The Regals responded by scoring the next 4 points before Thompson made a layup to make the score 4-3.
After Cal Lu scored 4 more points, Michelle Lagunas-Monroy responded by making a layup for Oxy and getting the lead down to 8-5. The Regals would go on a 5-0 run before Dara Tokeshi knocked down a jumper for the Tigers.
Thompson would begin to drive aggressively to the hoop and work her way to the free throw line and knock down multiple free throws to cut into the Regal lead. Cal Lutheran was able to use a strong start from the 3-point line, making 3 of their 5 attempts to take a 21-13 lead after one quarter of play.
Dominique Cabading got Oxy going in the 2nd quarter by knocking down a 3-pointer to open up the quarter before Toni Thompson made a layup on the next possession to cut the lead down to 3 points. Cal Lu responded with a layup before Cabading found Paige Yasukochi driving to the hoop for 2 points
Cabading then scored her own layup as the teams began to trade baskets and the score was 25-22 Regals. Yasukochi made a steal on the ensuing Regal inbound pass and then Micah Elegores made a pass to Yasukochi who dribbled to the free throw line and went up for a 2-pointer that she cashed in on to make it a one point game.
Toni Thompson tied the game at 26 with just over 5 minutes to play and then Dara Tokeshi knocked down a two after Oxy almost turned the ball over but the ball landed in. With just a minute left in the 2nd half Cabading saved a ball from going out of bounds on a pass before finding Thompson near the hoop for an easy 2 points.
WIth only seconds left in the 2nd quarter, Cabading would drive and dish it to Ainsley Shelsta who would post up on the Regal defender and make a move to her right to score the final basket of the half to make the score 34-32 Tigers heading into halftime.
Ainsley Shelsta opened the 2nd half with a layup with an assist from Cabading before Thompson would knock down a jumper to give Oxy a 39-32 lead. The Tigers would stay hot and come out firing as they began the 3rd quarter on a 12-0 scoring run.
Oxy's lead had gotten as big as 18 points when Dara Tokeshi knocked down a jumper at the end of the 3rd quarter to make the score 57-39. The Regals would refuse to go down without a fight as they stormed back with a 10-1 run to make the score 58-49 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Cal Lu kept their run going to start the 4th quarter and had rallied back to within 3 points of the Tiger lead. Toni Thompson would make a clutch layup with 4:29 remaining in the game to make the score 61-55. Paige Yasukochi would knock down a huge 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 8 point lead with 3:17 to go in the game. The Tigers would lock down on defense and force the Regals to miss shots and then made free throws on the offensive end to secure the win and become 2023-24 SCIAC Postseason Tournament Champions.
Toni Thompson scored 25 points and had 13 rebounds in the game and Dominique Cabading had a great game with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Paige Yasukochi also had a great game with 11 points and 7 rebounds. Dara Tokeshi also contributed 10 points and Ainsley Shelsta had 13 rebounds.
Toni Thompson was named the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Most Valuable Player as she averaged 27.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Tigers' two postseason games, and set a new SCIAC Postseason Tournament record in points with 55! Ainsley Shelsta also tied the SCIAC Postseason Tournament record by tallying 7 blocks over the two games! With the win, Oxy earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament!
