Rio Mesa’s Riley Abraham scored all six of her points late in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans the 57-49 comeback win over Santa Barbara in Tuesday night’s semifinal game in the Green Division of the Tournament of Champions.
Both teams exchanged the lead six times throughout the fourth, as the Dons were held to just six points in the quarter while three of Rio Mesa’s players combined for 20.
“When you play a good team and make a few small mistakes, you pay,” Santa Barbara head coach Andrew Butcher said.
The Dons committed more than a few mistakes, as Rio Mesa forced 28 turnovers throughout the game.
Rio Mesa came out firing with six unanswered points to start the game. Santa Barbara narrowed the deficit with an effective full-court press and six points from Tessa Emerson to finish the first quarter trailing 16-14. Emerson finished the game with nine points and 13 rebounds.
Santa Barbara took its first lead early in the second quarter on a turnaround jumper from forward Riley Lloyd to make it 18-16. Point guard Rebecca Griffin led the second quarter charge with seven points — two coming on a breakaway layup as time expired. Griffin, who has averaged 23.5 points so far this season, finished with 16.
Santa Barbara led by as much as 10 heading into the fourth, but it crumbled as Rio Mesa came back with 14 unanswered points to start the quarter.
Butcher blamed the fourth-quarter breakdown on Rio Mesa’s abundance of second-shot opportunities.
“We had a good second and third quarter, but then we just stopped rebounding,” said Butcher.
Santa Barbara was outscored 24-6 in the period.
Forward Leah Crier led the Spartans with 16 points in the game on solid post play and solid perimeter shooting. Guard Julisa DeVad followed with 14.
Rio Mesa will play Orange Lutheran in the championship tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. at J.R. Richards Gym, while Santa Barbara will play Arroyo Grande on the same court at 2:15 p.m.
