Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Ford named OEC MVP; Smith, Maulit earn first-team honors

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

COSTA MESA - With her strong play on both sides of the floor, Orange Coast College freshman guard Courtney Ford was named the Orange Empire Conference's Most Valuable Player.

Ford (pictured left) finished the regular season averaging 20.3 points per game -- more than any other freshman in the state. She also led the team in rebounding (7.2 per game), free throws made and free throws attempted (92-131) and was second on the team in steals (3.5 per game) and 3-pointers made (49).

Ford's 629 points currently rank her tied for third all time on OCC's single-season points total with Lisa Schumaker (1986-87). She is just 20 points behind LeAnn Kazmer (1993-94) for the No. 2 spot on the list, which would put her behind all-time leader Jennifer Ludwicki's 827-point season of 1997-98.

With a season record of 28-3 and a perfect 14-0 run in Orange Empire Conference play, head coach Mike Thornton (pictured right) was named the OEC Coach of the Year.

Wrapping up his 18th season, Thornton's record is 409-181(.693).

Joining Ford on the All-Orange Empire Conference team are teammates Rachael Maulit and Robin Smith.

Maulit (pictured left), a freshman point guard from Marina HS, was the floor director for the Pirates, leading the team with 6.5 assists per game, sixth-best in the state. She was also the biggest thorn in the opponents' backside, averaging a team-best 4.4 steals per game, fifth-best in the state. Both numbers were tops in the conference.

Smith (pictured right), a sophomore transfer from Irvine Valley College earned her second-straight first-team honors, averaging 11.4 points, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, most of which coming off of the bench for the Pirates. Her 81.9 free-throw shooting percentage (68-of-83) is third-best in the state.

Orange Coast will host San Bernardino Valley in the Southern California Regional Playoffs on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. If the Pirates win, they will host the winner between Fullerton and Santa Barbara on March 3, beginning at 7 p.m.