COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Golden West Women Extend Winning Steak

Julie Murdent and Nicole Quinn gave Golden West a strong inside advantage and helped the Rustlers to a 65-55 victory over Fullerton in an Orange Empire Conference women’s game Wednesday at Golden West.

The victory gives Golden West (24-3, 6-0 in conference) a two-game lead at the halfway point in the conference race.

It was the 23rd consecutive conference victory and the 64th consecutive home victory for Golden West, the top-ranked team in Southern California. Fullerton was the last team to beat Golden West at home when the Hornets did it in 1989.

Murdent, a freshman forward from Fountain Valley High, had 22 points, including 14 in the second half. Quinn, a freshman reserve forward from Woodbridge High, had a season-high 19 points.

Golden West was able to control the game because of strong rebounding. The Rustlers held a 75-30 advantage in rebounding, including a 45-12 margin in the second half.

Murdent had 15 rebounds, 12 offensive, and Kristin Brun and Katie Miner had 14 rebounds each. Brun also scored 11 points, her high this season in conference play.

“It was another ugly win for us,” Golden West Coach Dave Stricklin said. “We haven’t shot well for a while now. But someone always seems to step up. Tonight, it was Nicole Quinn. It’s been exciting for us as coaches to get to the gym each night and see who it’s going to be.”

Fullerton (16-11, 4-2) got within 52-47 with 6 minutes 21 seconds left but Golden West went on a 9-0 run. Quinn had five points and Murdent had four in the run.

In other Orange Empire Conference women’s games:

Orange Coast 82, Rancho Santiago 50--Coach Mike Thornton, in his fifth season at Orange Coast, got his 100th career victory. Thornton, who guided OCC to its first appearance in the State tournament last season, has a career mark of 100-51. LeAnn Kazmer, who missed last Friday’s game because of a sore knee, scored a game-high 26 points for Orange Coast (16-9, 4-2).

Riverside 62, Cypress 60--Audrey McMurry got a rebound with 18 seconds left and host Riverside (20-8, 3-3) was able to run out the clock. McMurry finished with 20 points. Yolanda Hearvey (15 points) made two free throws with about 30 seconds left to cut the lead to 61-60.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s games:

Fullerton 94, Golden West 80--Tyrone Merriweather, a sophomore forward, scored 30 points and added 11 rebounds for host Fullerton (20-6, 5-2), which has won five in a row. Kevin Carlson added 16 points for the Hornets.

Tobie Priest had 21 and Greg Vanden Ordel added 18 for Golden West (8-14, 1-6).

Rancho Santiago 88, Orange Coast 66--Sean Amos scored 23 points and Nathan Small had 15 for Rancho Santiago (16-8, 4-3). Chauncey Woolridge scored 34 points and had nine rebounds for Orange Coast (1-11, 1-6).

Riverside 71, Cypress 69 (OT)--Cypress’ Mike McGuire missed a three-pointer and teammate Jim Falletta missed a tip-in as time ran out. Host Cypress (10-16, 1-6) scored the final five points of regulation to force overtime.

Jeff Cummins had 17 points for Cypress and Darryle Flicking had 19 for Riverside (20-5, 6-1).