COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : OCC Has to Rally to Defeat Cypress

The Orange Coast women’s basketball team rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Cypress, 66-61, in an Orange Empire Conference opener Wednesday at Cypress.

The Pirates (17-2, 1-0), ranked fourth in the state, got 16 points from Heather Brannan.

Tamika Harold had 21 points and 17 rebounds for Cypress (9-8, 0-1).

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Golden West 69, Saddleback 40--Guard Melanie Iwamasa, who played for Edison High last year, had 20 points and eight rebounds as Golden West (20-2) overcame a sluggish start to lead, 27-24, at halftime. Golden West outscored Saddleback, 42-16, in the second half. Megan Rehwoldt led Saddleback (3-9) with nine points.

Riverside 51, Fullerton 39--Freshman Carrie Glodt scored 17 points and Traci Conte added 12 rebounds for Fullerton (10-11), which led, 23-21, at halftime.