Orange Coast College

Women's hoopsters outlast Gauchos, 73-66

Friday, January 19, 2007

COSTA MESA - Two of the top teams in Southern California went toe-to-toe in the Peterson Gym on Friday night and in the end, the hosts were the last ones standing.

Led by some strong post play and some success from the free-throw line, the No. 3 Pirates held off a strong effort by the No. 9 Gauchos, 73-66, in Orange Empire Conference action.

With the Gaucho focus on OCC's leading scorer Courtney Ford (held to 11 points), several other Pirates (20-3, 6-0 in OEC) stepped up and produced in her place. The post tandem of Lindsay Taylor (pictured left, 14 points, six rebounds) and Christina Calcagno (pictured right, six points, eight rebounds) found success down low, while the threesome of Rachael Maulit, Brittany taylor and Erin Barney combined for 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting (64.7 percent).

Saddleback's guard tandem of Cassie Glockgether and Ashley Price were strong from up top. Glockgether led the Gauchos (14-6, 3-3) with 19 points (four 3-pointers) and eight assists, while Price chipped in 15. Down low, 6-foot-4 post standout Rekeshia Jones added 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

The Gauchos led for most of the first half, but a late OCC run gave the Pirates a 38-37 lead at the break.

Saddleback jumped back out in front 42-40 early in the second half before a 10-1 OCC run gave the Pirates the lead for good. Four straight Ford points, three in a row by Taylor, a Katie Kissee jumper and a free throw by Barney highlighted the run as the defense held the Gauchos to one made free throw and 0-for-4 shooting from the field with three turnovers.

A late Saddleback run cut the deficit to 63-59, but a pair of Taylor free throws, followed by back-to-back jumpers from Allen and Robin Smith (eight points, six assists) pushed the lead back up to 10 with 3:00 remaining.

Usually shooting early and often from 3-point land, the Pirates used patience and found success down low and that work turned into free-throw opportunities, where OCC hit 18-of-20 (90 percent) for the night.

OCC will return to action on Wednesday at Riverside, beginning at 7:30 p.m. to wrap up the first round of OEC play. The Pirates begin Round 2 at Golden West on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m.