COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Saddleback Manages to Hold On, Stop Golden West Streak

Saddleback failed to make many clutch free throws but still hung on for a 77-74 victory Wednesday over visiting Golden West to halt the Rustlers’ 28-game Orange Empire Conference winning streak.

Saddleback made just five of 15 free-throws attempts in the final 2 minutes 36 seconds, but Golden West had its troubles scoring as well.

Golden West got as close as three points when Frances Oda banked in three-pointer with 22 seconds left to cut the lead to 74-71. Saddleback’s Danielle Silva was then fouled and made one of two free throws for a 75-71 Saddleback lead.

After a Golden West miss, Saddleback’s Carrie Burt was fouled, sending her to the line with 13 seconds left.

Burt was the only Saddleback player at the offensive end, as her four teammates were down getting ready to play defense. Burt, who is a 5-foot-5 guard, missed the free-throw try, but beat three taller Golden West players for the rebound, and was fouled.

This time, she made both free throws and Saddleback led, 77-71, with 12 seconds left.

Golden West’s Oda hit another three-pointer to get the Rustlers back to within three points with four seconds left. Saddleback missed another free-throw try with two seconds left, but Golden West never got off a shot as Saddleback celebrated its biggest victory in the three years Jack Single has been the coach.

Single took over the program after it had been dropped for a year for lack of players.

“We could have made things a lot easier had we made some more free throws,” Single said. Saddleback was 18 of 36 from the line in the game.

Golden West is the two-time defending state and conference champion and came into the game ranked No. 1 in Southern California and third in the state. Saddleback was third in Southern California and sixth in the state.

Golden West had the early advantage, taking a 12-3 lead. But Saddleback went on a 14-0 run and led, 17-12, with 13:02 left in the first half. It was close the rest of the way and Saddleback led, 40-38, at the half.

“It was big game and we were a little tight at the start,” Single said. “But after a timeout we made a few adjustments and things went better.”

The teams were tied eight times in the second half with the last time coming at, 62-62, with 6:06 left. Saddleback then went on a 6-0 run on baskets by Silva, Heidi Sorour and Stefanie Moorman and led, 68-62, with 4:20 left.

Silva had 18, Moorman 15 and Erin Schimeneck 14 for Saddleback. Jenny Sullivan had 13, Oda 12, and Kim Kordik and Allison Bickel had 11 each off the bench for Golden West (20-5, 4-1).

In other conference games:

Orange Coast 82, Cypress 32--After Cypress scored the first basket, Orange Coast (14-10, 1-4) scored 16 consecutive points. Collen Hatch had 15 points for Orange Coast.

Joan Maurer had 13 points and nine rebounds for Cypress (6-16, 0-5). Cypress made only eight of 55 shots from the field (15%).

Riverside 65, Fullerton 56--Rachell Auld had 21 points and Kartina Sillivan had 18 for visiting Riverside (15-8, 3-2). Holly Keeton had 15 points, Monique Grace 14 and Sig Lo 13 for Fullerton (9-11, 2-3).