Lady Corsairs, Tied for First, Faces 2 Key Basketball Foes

The Santa Monica College women’s basketball team, tied for first place with Long Beach City College in Metropolitan Conference competition, has key matches with Los Angeles City at 4 p.m. today and Pasadena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at SMC.

The last time the Corsairs (18-3, 6-1) played those teams, key players were ejected for fighting and flagrant fouls.

Corsair forward Gisselle Bowden and Los Angeles guard Dot Cooper, the team’s leading thief (averaging two steals a game), were thrown out of a Jan. 15 game after exchanging heated words. The Corsairs then ran over Los Angeles, 88-51.

A bench-clearing brawl between the Corsairs and Pasadena on Jan. 17 resulted in the ejection of Corsair guard Gibran Bowden, Gisselle’s sister, and two Pasadena players. The Corsairs won, 66-51.

“We can’t take them too lightly,” Corsair Coach Barbara Hayes said. “When we play them again it’ll be a different game. I hope they’re just coming to play basketball.”

Los Angeles’ strengths are center Alison Sutton (averaging 15.3 points) and forward Lecia Codrington (averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds).

Pasadena (13-7, 5-2) has two players scoring in double figures. Forward Teresa Ivy, the team’s leading scorer (19-point average) is also its top rebounder (averaging 10). Guard Terri Lopez is averaging 10.4 points.

The Corsairs, who are scoring 45.9% from the floor and 51% from the line, have five players scoring in double figures: Gibran Bowden, 19.8-point average; guard Valerie Vermeer, 17.5; guard Tracey Kucas, 13.4; Gisselle Bowden, 12.5, and forward Yvonne Tate, 12.2. Rebounding is being handled by Gisselle Bowden (9.2 average).

The team is averaging 80.7 points and its opponents 51.5.

Last week, after losing to Long Beach, 56-55, the Corsairs defeated Pierce, 106-36, and Bakersfield, 91-77.