Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Pirates escape with double-overtime win over Irvine Valley

Friday, February 01, 2008

COSTA MESA - Courtney Ford and Rachael Maulit simply wouldn't allow the Orange Coast College women's basketball team to lose on Friday night.

The twosome scored 57 of the Pirates' 80 points, including a game-winning, buzzer-beater by Ford as OCC pulled out an 80-79 double-overtime win over the relentless Irvine Valley College Lasers on Friday night.

Ford led all scorers with a career-high 38 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Maulit, usually known for her passing, notched her career-high with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting with nine assists, four rebounds and four steals.

While Ford and Maulit found success, the rest of the Pirates (23-3, 7-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) struggled offensively, hitting just 6 of 39 shots for the night, an icy 15.3 percent.

"We made a lot of mental and physical mistakes, but in the end, Courtney and Rachael made plays and willed us to win as they have done often in the past," OCC head coach Mike Thornton said. "I felt that IVC deserved to win the game, but to have a great season, you have to win one like that every once in a while."

In the second OT, Irvine Valley (15-9, 4-4) jumped out to a quick 77-72 lead before the Pirates began their comeback. Single free throws from Katie Kissee and Erin Barney were followed by a two straight baskets off of IVC turnovers and suddenly, OCC, led 78-77.

But back came the Lasers as Nicole Tait grabbed a key offensive rebound and scored with 18 seconds left, giving IVC a 79-78 lead.

The Pirates failed to score on their next possession and on IVC's next possession, Laser center D.J. Butler was fouled with just over 8 seconds remaining.

The 6-foot-2 freshman, who had a solid game with 20 points and 11 rebounds, missed both free-attempts, setting up Ford's heroics.

The Mercer University-bound sophomore drove to the hoop and shot a 3-footer that was partially blocked. However, the ball found its way back into Ford's hands and OCC's all-time leading scorer managed to get off another shot at the buzzer and the shot swished through the hoop for the game-winner.

Tiffany Smith led IVC with 23 points and 14 rebounds off of the bench, while Jenna Schonfeld and Nicole Tait each added 12 points.

The Pirates return to action on Wednesday at Cypress, beginning at 5:30 p.m. They return home on Friday to take on rival Fullerton, beginning at 5:30 p.m.