North Torrance Girls Lose Title to San Clemente at Costa Mesa

North Torrance High center Laura Collins led all scorers with 21 points but was held to one in the decisive third quarter as the Saxons fell to San Clemente, 57-51, Wednesday night in the championship game of the Costa Mesa girls basketball tournament.

San Clemente, using three players to defend the 5-foot-11 Collins, outscored North, 16-8, in the third quarter to take a 40-34 lead. Collins had scored 12 in the second period to give the Saxons a 26-24 advantage but had only seven in the second half.

North (9-2) will open its Ocean League season at 4:30 p.m. today by playing host to defending State Division I champion Morningside. The game features the attractive matchup of Collins against 6-5 Lisa Leslie of Morningside.

Nine players scored for San Clemente (11-3), led by center Kim McOwen with 13 points and forward Wendy Moon with 12.