Marin's motto of five strong lasted nearly 35 minutes into game before a series of fouls left the Mariners with just two players. Marin held a six point lead halfway through the fourth quarter, but the numbers caught up to them and they fell to visiting Mendocino College by a score of 77-69.
Marin jumped out to an early 10-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game, as all five Mariners had a field goal. Mendocino responded and tied the game at 12-12. Marin's shooting went cold as Mendocino piled up the points to take a 25-14 advantage, heading into the second quarter. The second was nearly a stalemate as both teams traded baskets. Mendocino hit a late three pointer to push their lead to 41-27 heading into the halftime locker room.
Marin was a different team in the second half, passing, cutting, and running the floor with reckless abandon, much to their advantage. The aggression of Tori Buckley and the pick and roll combo of Amari Allison and Ureka Abbushi allowed Marin to cut the Mendocino advantage to 53-50 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Marin grab a 63-57 lead with 5:15 left in the game but it was at that point Tori Buckley fouled out reducing the floor contingent to just four bodies. Marin pushed on and had a 68-66 lead until with three minutes remaining Amari Allison also reached her allotment of five fouls and had to leave the floor. Abbushi, Daniella Cerruti and Regan Andel attempted to keep the team afloat, but it was for not after Abbushi fouled out with 1:30 left in regulation. Andel and Cerruti fought their hardest but 2 on 5 proved impossible as Mendocino grabbed a lead and pushed the final score to 77-69.
Despite the loss, it was Marin's best effort in conference play as the battled back from a double digit deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Allison, in her first game in over a month, scored 25 points and added 20 rebounds and six steals. Andel had a double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Abbushi had nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Marin travels to Laney College to face the Eagles at 5:00PM in Oakland on Friday, January 27th.