Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Pirates overcome slow start to top Santa Ana

Friday, February 22, 2008

COSTA MESA -- With the biggest home crowd and strong pack of alumni in attendance, the last thing the Orange Coast College women's basketball team wanted to do was end the regular season with a defeat.

Courtney Ford and the rest of the Pirates would have none of that as the Orange Empire Conference champs dominated the second half en route to a 75-60 win over visiting Santa Ana on Friday.

Ford led the way with 37 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and eight steals in one of her more dominating performances in a year of several dominating performances. Simone Ibbotson added 12 points and six rebounds, while Katie Kissee chipped in nine for the Pirates (29-3, 13-1).

For now, the Pirates will wait for the upcoming playoff pairings, which will be announced on Monday. The Pirates will get a first-round bye and will most likely play at home on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m.

Heather Couzens led the Dons (17-13, 6-8) with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Jamie Glover added 10 points.

Usually the team in control of things early on, the Pirates watch the Dons end the first half with a surprising 23-4 run to take a 38-30 lead at the half.

That lead was short-lived however, as the Pirates came out red-hot in the second half, grabbing the lead for good just five minutes into the session. A 15-4 run highlighted that opening five minutes and the Pirates never looked back.

Santa Ana got within three at 63-60 with 5:10 left, but those would be the last points of the night for the Dons as OCC ended the game with a 12-0 run.