Orange Coast College

Women's Basketball: Top-ranked Ventura too much for Coast

Saturday, December 13, 2008

COSTA MESA -- Less than 24 hours after a hard-fought loss to Cerritos, the Orange Coast College women's basketball team hosted top-ranked Ventura and the visiting Pirates topped the hometown Pirates, 53-42, on Saturday in nonconference action.

It was another slow start for Coast (9-4). After taking an early 8-7 lead, OCC went scoreless for over seven minutes, allowing Ventura (14-0) to take the lead for good. Thanks to a 16-5 run over the next 10 minutes, Ventura led 23-13 and carried a 28-17 lead at the end of the first half.

The Ventura advantage grew to as many as 19 (47-28), but led by Casey Gomez (12 points) and Rebecca Murray (five straight points), OCC used a 10-0 run to get to within nine at 47-38 with 4:50 left.

But Ventura showed why it was the top-ranked team in the state, keeping the local Pirates at bay the rest of the way. Three Ventura players reached double figures, including Michelle Santizo (12 points), Julie Heurung (11 points, five rebounds) and Chanelle Brennan (10 points, five rebounds).

Up next for the Pirates will be the Coast Christmas Classic. There, OCC will open things with Southwestern College, beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. Other opening-day games include El Camino vs. Chaffey at 1 p.m., College of the Canyons vs. Saddleback at 3 p.m. and Cuesta vs. Cerritos at 5 p.m.