COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Canyons Upsets No. 1 El Camino in Overtime

College of the Canyons scored the first 12 points in overtime and knocked off El Camino, the state’s top-ranked team, 88-78, Wednesday in a first-round game of the Fullerton women’s tournament.

Sophomore forward Tressie Millender scored 25 points and hit five three-point shots, including one in overtime. Teammate Dawn Coleman scored 16 points and Dominique Ice had seven points--five in overtime.

Ice also had three steals after regulation, when the Cougars battled back from a nine-point deficit with 3:20 remaining.

Canyons, which won its 11th consecutive game, is 11-1 and will play Valley at 8:45 p.m. today in the second round. El Camino is 12-2.

In another tournament game:

Valley 98, San Bernardino Valley 36--Every player on the Valley roster scored in a first-round game of the Fullerton tournament at Fullerton College. Lisa Little led Valley (12-2) with 17 points. Christine Rumfola (16), Sandrine Rocher (12) and Ericka Miller (10) all scored in double figures.

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Canyons 123, Victor Valley 78--Canyons was forced to play without guard Steve Valenzuela in the first round of the Canyons tournament. Valenzuela sprained an ankle in practice Sunday and isn’t expected to return for at least a week. If Canyons’ play against Victor Valley was any indicator, Valenzuela can take his time coming back.

Capitalizing on 17 first-half turnovers by Victor Valley--which had 28 in the game--Canyons built a 23-point halftime lead and cruised.

Freshman guard Nick Sanderson scored a game-high 27 points, 17 in the first half, to lead a quintet of Canyons players who scored in double figures.

Sanderson and center Justin Clark each blocked three shots.

Canyons (7-8) hit 65% from the field on 28-of-43 shooting in the second half and was 61% in the game. “Without Valenzuela, we were fortunate to have everything rolling in,” Coach Lee Smelser said. “We were able to get the ball off the backboards and run.”

And pass, too.

Guard Tom Kelly had nine assists and Larry Allbritton added eight.