Harbor Player Failed to Break National Mark : Basketball: Bridgete Williams’ 72-point game is seven points shy of 1991 game by Washington player.

As a member of the Morningside High girls’ basketball team, Bridgete Williams saw teammate Lisa Leslie score 101 points in a half of a 1990 game against South Torrance.

On Wednesday night in Wilmington, it was Williams’ turn.

The Harbor College sophomore guard shattered her own state community college scoring record of 65 points by scoring 72 points in the Seahawks’ 133-62 victory over Long Beach City College.

According to Fred Baer of the JC Athletic Bureau, Williams’ 72 points is believed to be the second-highest ever in a women’s community college basketball game. In a 1991 game, Erin Tharp of Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., scored 79 points.

It was the fourth time that the 5-foot-6 Williams has scored 50 or more points in a game this season. She scored 50 against Los Angeles Air Force Base on Dec. 2 and 65 against San Diego on Dec. 19 and Long Beach on Jan. 15.

So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that she broke her record against Long Beach.

“Knowing that I scored 65 against them the last time, I knew I could score a lot,” Williams said. “But playing a team a second time can be hard. I figured they would be prepared, so I was expecting a tough game.”

Williams said she was motivated after the Seahawks, who are 25-3 and ranked fourth in the state, were upset last week by Cerritos.

“When we lost to them, I felt like I had to play harder than that,” she said. “Knowing that my team depends on me, I knew I had to score a lot.”

But 72 points?

Harbor Coach Louie Nelson said he kidded Williams after she scored 65 against San Diego.

“After the game, I told her if she was a little more hungry, she’d get 70 and she just kind of looked at me in a funny way,” he said.

Williams made 32 of 52 shots, including seven of 12 three-point attempts.

Surprisingly, Williams attempted only two free throws, making one.

“They didn’t call too many fouls,” Nelson said. “I guess the referees got tired of seeing her shoot.”

Williams set the record despite playing only 30 minutes.

“With our pressure defense, I don’t like to play her more than that,” Nelson said. “I usually take her out two or three times a half.”

Nelson said it wasn’t a case of Williams scoring against an outclassed opponent.

“She’s a hungry player and she’s having a very good year,” he said. “The amazing thing is she’s shooting about 60% from the field and 40% from the three-point line.”

But Nelson does give Williams freedom to shoot as much as she wants.

“I designate scorers on this team and I give all of my shooters the green light,” he said. “As long as she doesn’t go cold, I tell her she can keep shooting.”

Williams is averaging 39.5 points a game, but is second in state scoring behind Contra Costa’s Karleen Shields, who is averaging 41.8.

Nelson said Williams hasn’t grasped her accomplishment.

“I don’t think she even realizes what she’s done,” he said. “She broke Kim Young’s school record of 45 points last year and she’s setting her own standard now.”

Harbor plays tonight at L.A. Trade Tech.