In a tough playoff upset that ended their season, the Fresno City College women’s basketball team lost to Sierra College, 96-86, on Feb. 27, making it the first time in seven years where the team didn’t advance to the regional finals.
Coach Brian Tessler and his team, seeded No.2 in the NorCal region, knew the game against No.18 seed Sierra was going to be tough and indeed it was.
“Tonight wasn’t our night,” Tessler told The Rampage after the game. “I’m disappointed for my girls because they’ve played hard over the last seven months.”
The Rams, who went undefeated in Central Valley Conference play during the regular season, rallied from an early second-half deficit but fell short late in the game.
The Rams caught up, just five points behind as the end of regulation ticked away but Sierra wouldn’t let go of its lead. The Wolverines, who shot 52 percent from the field on the night, headed to the line, sinking their free throws late in the game to finish their upset of the Rams.
Early in the second half, Sierra led by as much as 18 points, at 60-42, wasting no time advancing their halftime lead.
Fresno City played hard, aggressive defense throughout the second half, putting the pressure on Sierra and hoping for a last-minute miracle. The Rams tried to set the tone by double teaming and closing the gap. Unable to capitalize with some steals of their own, FCC trailed to the end.
Their miracle didn’t come.
“They took it right at us from start to finish,” Tessler said in a news release, several days after the loss.
“We never led throughout the entire 40 minutes.
From the opening minutes of the first half, Fresno City trailed. The Rams tried to answer back, only for Sierra to take its lead to a dozen midway through the first half. Both teams played aggressive defense, but with FCC missing some easy buckets, Sierra took an 11-point lead going into half time and never looked back.
Sierra head coach Brandie Murrish said that with the victory, the team looked forward to advancing in the playoffs. The team went on to lose to Chabot in the next round.
“As underdogs, we played with a lot of pride,” Murrish told The Rampage, as her players celebrated.
Coach Tessler, who was disappointed after the game, said he told his team at halftime to play hard.
“If we lose, we’re going to lose our style,” Tessler said, “and that’s playing hard up and down the floor.”
After shaking hands at the end of the game, Sierra players celebrated, hugging and jumping up and down at their bench. Fresno City players left the court quickly.
