GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : No. 5 Tustin Presses the Issue, Beats University

Using a nasty full-court press that forced numerous turnovers and provided repeated scoring opportunities, Tustin took a sizable first-quarter lead and went on to defeat University, 44-32, in a Sea View League girls’ game Tuesday at University.

The Tillers (12-5, 2-0 in league), ranked fifth in Orange County, took advantage of 11 turnovers by University (10-6, 1-1) in the opening quarter to take a 17-4 lead at the end of the period.

University, which entered the game ranked eighth in the county, didn’t score during a 6-minute 33-second span in the quarter. Senior forward Tara Wolff got the only two baskets by the Trojans, both on 15-foot jumpers.

By Wolff’s second basket, however, Tustin had inflicted heavy damage behind the shooting of Christine Garner. The 6-foot senior center scored eight of her game-high 15 points in the quarter. That gave her a career total of 1,146 points to surpass Mary Hegarty as the all-time Tustin scoring leader. Hegarty, who scored 1,135 points for the Tillers from 1976 to 1979, is now a UCLA assistant coach.

“(Tustin) jumped all over us and we were never able to make a dent when you have to,” University Coach Doug Sorey said.

The Trojans pounded away anyway, though, and made a late run at Tustin.

Trailing, 38-22, with 7:33 remaining in the game, University scored eight unanswered points to cut the Tiller lead to 38-30 midway through the final quarter. Tustin reeled off six consecutive points to secure the victory.

Tustin Coach Rick Falk said the Tillers have been forced to withstand other similar rallies this season.

“Maybe it’s because we are a young team, but we haven’t been able to put a team away,” Falk said.

Garner finished with 11 rebounds, and Shari Needham and Sara Davis each scored 10 points for the Tillers. Jennifer Stanley came off the bench to score 10 points for University. Wolff had eight points and nine rebounds.