Carpinteria was within four points of No. 5 Santa Clara with a minute to go, but ultimately fell 40-42 to the first-place Saints in Tuesday’s Frontier League girls basketball matchup in Carpinteria.
The Warriors shot a season-high 47-percent from the floor, but went just 7-for-18 from the free-throw line, well below their average. Nonetheless, coach Dan Mercer was very proud of his team’s performance.
“I really have no second-guesses about how the girls left eberything on the court and played hard against a tlented Santa Clara team,” he said. “I like where we’re at right now.”
Amanda Burch continued her stellar play, scoring 21 points for the second consecutive outing to go along with six rebounds. She scored 10 of Carpinteria’s 18 points in the first quarter. Caitlin Wallace chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds, while 5-foot-2 first-year player Shelby Dunlap pulled down eight boards.
Wallace hit a leaner with just over three minutes to go that cut the Santa Clara lead to one, but the Saints hit their free throws down the stretch.
“If we get to the playoffs, (Santa Clara) is the type of team we’ll have to play, so I think we can really compete for two or three rounds,” said Mercer.
The Warriors (13-8, 4-3) play at Santa Paula on Thursday. The Saints are now 7-0 in league play.
SANTA CLARA 50, CARPINTERIA 42
SANTA CLARA — Anderson 6, Hernandez 11, Whitney 15, Smith 9, Escamilla 8. Totals 16 10-14 50.
CARPINTERIA — DeLeon 2, Wallace 14, Burch 21, Freeman 5. Totals 13 7-18 42.
Santa Clara…11 15 14 10 — 50
Carpinteria…18 9 7 8 — 42
3-point goals — SC 3 (Escamilla 2, Smith), C 3 (Wallace 2, Burch 1). Total fouls — SC 17, C 16.Fouled out — DeLeon.
13-8, 4-3 tied for second with BD
SC 7-0
