The St. Joseph Notre Dame women’s basketball team’s 2015-2016 season ended with a close 65-59 loss to Eastside College Prep of East Palo Alto in the NorCal Div. V Championship on March 19.

The two teams came out blazing in the opening quarter. The Panthers took the upper hand early with a 7-2 lead, but the Pilots fought right back with a couple 3-pointers to cut the gap to 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.

However, the Panthers gained separation in the second period. The Pilots’ offense was stuck in mud for most of the period while its counterpart flourished. The Panthers outscored the Pilots 19-7 in the second period. The Panthers held a 40-23 lead at halftime. 

Despite the large deficit, the Pilots climbed back into the game partly due to the strong play from Pilot guard Mira Love-Sangco. The Pilots scored its largest point total, 23, in the third quarter. With the strong offensive performance in the period, the Pilots were able to cut the Panthers lead to just four points. However, the Panthers went on an offensive flurry of its own and pushed its lead to 58-46 at the end of the third quarter.

SJND managed to outscore Eastside College Prep 13-7 in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to overcome the defending Div. V NorCal champs.

Love-Sangco led the Pilots with 19 points. Aiyanna Dueberry pitched in 16 points. Both NorCal championship games were played at American Canyon High.

The Pilots advanced to the NorCal Championship after a 56-48 victory over Woodside Priory of Portola Valley in the NorCal semifinals on March 15.

In the contest the Pilots jumped out to a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Woodside got right back in the game outscoring the Pilots 16-11 in the second quarter to cut the Pilots lead to 28-23 at the end of the first half.

The Pilots’ saw its lead dwindled down by two points at the end of the third frame. The Panthers outscored the Pilots 17-15 in the period. However, SJND was able to put the game away in the fourth quarter due to its stellar defense. The Pilots held Woodside to just eight points in the final period. Dueberry, a junior, led the way with 20 points. She was the only Pilot to score in double figures. She shot 7-for-14 from the field, including 4-for-8 from beyond the 3-point line. Senior Ayesha Kearns pulled down 12 rebounds.

The Pilots end its 2015-2016 season with a 26-9 overall record.