COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : College of Sequoias Stops Golden West in Semifinal

Golden West’s run at a third consecutive State title ended with a 75-62 loss to College of the Sequoias in the semifinals of the State women’s basketball tournament Friday at Merritt College.

It was the sixth consecutive State tournament appearance for Golden West, which had won the last two State titles.

But this year, Sequoias will play Lassen at 7 tonight to decide the State championship.

Lassen, which has been the top-ranked team in the state most of the season, defeated College of the Siskiyous, 93-78, in the other semifinal Friday.

It’s the first all-Northern California title game since 1987, when Sequoias beat American River in the title game at Cypress College.

Golden West led once in the second half, 49-48, with 9 minutes 31 seconds left, but Sequoias then went on a 17-5 run to take a 65-54 lead with 3:34 left.

Sequoias dominated from the free-throw line, making 20 of 34. Golden West was 11 of 22.

It was the third consecutive time Golden West has played Sequoias in the State tournament. Golden West defeated Sequoias in the title game in 1990 and beat the Giants in the semifinals last season.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Harney matched her playoff average with 21 points and Cossette Smith added 14 for Golden West (28-6). Harney averaged 17.5 points in the regular season.

Jenny Sullivan, who averaged 16 points, was held to two points in the game largely because of a foot injury suffered in Thursday’s 80-75 victory over Allan Hancock in the quarterfinal round.

Tinisha Huddleston had 19 and Keisha McCarty had 14 for Sequoias (32-6).