Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Pirates end year on losing note

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

VENTURA -- After watching its winning streak reach 13 straight, the Orange Coast College women's basketball team ended 2007 with a rare setback after losing to host Ventura, 64-40 on Thursday at the Ventura Crossover.

The night before, the Pirates (16-2) topped Antelope Valley 55-47, but that would be final win during Coast's 13-game winning streak that dated back to Nov. 11.

"We didn't play very well against Antelope Valley and usually, when we play poorly, we respond with a good game, but we weren't able to do that against Ventura," OCC head coach Mike Thornton said. "A lot of our troubles came from what Ventura was doing to us. They are a good team and they played us tougher defensively than anyone else this year. We just didn't have an answer for them."

In the win over Antelope Valley, Courtney Ford put together a solid game with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Casey Gomez added eight points, while Katie Kissee and Brittany Taylor each contributed six points. Point guard Rachael Maulit notched six steals and six assists to go along with her four points.

Against Ventura, Kissee led the sixth-ranked OCC Pirates with 12 points and six rebounds, but 28 turnovers were too much to overcome against the fifth-ranked Ventura Pirates (15-4).

OCC will kick off Orange Empire Conference play on Wednesday at Irvine Valley, before returning home to face Cypress. Both games will tip off at 7:30 p.m.