Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Pirates finish second at Mt. SAC Tournament

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

WALNUT -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team came about as close as a team could get to winning the Mt. SAC Tip-Off Tournament this past weekend.

Following wins from host Mt. San Antonio and Solano, the Pirates came up a point short against Fresno City, losing 71-70 in the title game.

In the semifinals against Solano, the Pirates rolled to a 90-55 win led by the long-range shooting of Katie Kissee, who buried five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 18 points. The sophomore guard earned all-tournament honors, along with teammate Courtney Ford, who added 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win.

Erin Barney contributed 13 points, while Simone Ibbotson and Casey Gomez each added 11 points.

Against Fresno, the Pirates overcame a 12-point deficit and carried a 71-70 lead with under 10 seconds left when a Rams player was awarded two free throws after a questionable OCC foul call. The free throws were made and a final Pirates' attempt at the buzzer missed the mark.

Ford led all scorers with 23 points and five rebounds, while Barney added 15 points, six rebounds and three steals and Gomez tossed in 11 points.

The Pirates return to action at the College of the Desert Thanksgiving Classic where they will face Glendale at COD, beginning on Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.