THE COLLEGES : Community College Basketball : Golden West Women Clinch Title

Kathy Werth scored 21 points to lead Golden West College to a 70-55 victory over Mt. San Antonio in a South Coast Conference women’s basketball game at Walnut Friday.

The victory clinched the conference championship for Golden West. It was the second consecutive conference championship for Golden West and its 27th consecutive victory this season. Golden West (27-1, 12-0) has been the state’s top-ranked team all season.

“We didn’t play that well tonight, but it is great to get another championship,” said Dick Stricklin, Golden West coach. “It is nice to get it out of the way before we have to play Long Beach and Fullerton next week.”

Kris Takayama and Stephanie Swanson scored 10 points each for Golden West, which led, 40-31, at the half.

In another South Coast Conference game:

Fullerton 76, El Camino 59--Steffi Strauss scored 16 points and Heidi Shikuma added 10 to lead Fullerton (24-7, 9-3) at home. The victory kept Fullerton (24-7, 9-3) tied for second in the conference with Long Beach. Fullerton led 41-17 at halftime.

In the Orange Empire Conference:

Cypress 74, Rancho Santiago 49--Cypress clinched at least a tie for the conference championship with the victory at home. Becky Wayland led Cypress (21-7, 8-0) with 18 points. Vicky Sliva had 14, Janene Allen had 12 and Karen Caires 11 for Cypress. Cypress trailed, 33-32, at the half, but went on a 19-8 run to open the second half and led, 51-41, with 10 minutes left.

In a South Coast Conference men’s game:

El Camino 70, Fullerton 54--Charles White scored 17 points to lead host El Camino (26-3, 10-2). Fullerton was led by sophomore forward Troy Joseph’s 12 points. Kevin Jones was the only other Fullerton player in double figures with 10. Fullerton trailed, 37-33, at the half but could get no closer in the second half. Kirkland Howland added 12 for El Camino, which is ranked fourth in the state and No. 1 in Southern California.