STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Jackson Powers Golden West, 91-79

Claudette Jackson scored 23 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead Golden West College to a 91-79 victory over Merritt in the quarterfinals of the state tournament Thursday afternoon at College of the Sequoias.

Golden West (35-1), the top-seeded team in the southern region, led Merritt (25-8), the north’s fourth-seeded team, only 45-44 at halftime.

The Rustlers switched to a triangle-and-two defense in the second half, with two defenders on Merritt’s Tidra Hardy.

Hardy scored a game-high 24 points, but Golden West limited her to two points in a 27-8 run midway through the second half.

Golden West’s Bits Sirchia made four second-half three-point shots and finished with 18 points. Stacee Johnson also scored 18 points despite leaving the game with more than 10 minutes remaining with an ankle injury.

Shawna Armstrong came back from a first-half knee injury to finish with 12 points, and Golden West co-coach Dave Stricklin said he expects both players to be ready for the m. semifinal game tonight at 6 against Cerritos.

Golden West center Donna Gondringer was in foul trouble and scored eight points.