Bishop Montgomery Girls Lose to Powerful Brea-Olinda, 62-42

The Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team defeated Bishop Montgomery, 62-42, in a nonleague game Saturday night at Brea.

The Ladycats (15-2) were led by point guard Nicole Erickson, who had a game-high 18 points, and senior forward Jody Anton, who had 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Ladycats were able to control the tempo and keep the run-and-shoot Knights (16-3) in check.

“We like to get teams in an ugly half-court game,” Brea Coach Mark Trakh said.

The Ladycats, ranked first in Orange County and the defending State Division II champions, allowed Bishop Montgomery few inside shots and limited center Joana Ziuraitis to three points and forward Keisa Smith to eight.

Bishop Montgomery guard Natalie Graham scored only one point.

Brea led, 27-17, at halftime and increased its lead to 41-25 late in the third quarter on consecutive baskets by Anton.

The Ladycats then opened a 20-point lead by scoring eight unanswered points at the end of the third quarter and early in the fourth, four of them by sophomore forward Sara Beckley. She finished with 12 points.

They increased the lead to 60-36 with just over a minute to play on a jump shot by Erickson, who scored nine points in the quarter.

Sophomore center Colleen Hudson had a game-high 13 rebounds for Brea. Mirlen Martinez led Bishop Montgomery with 13 points and Smith had a team-high nine rebounds.