Golden West Again Defeats OCC

Leila Ryan made eight free throws down the stretch as Golden West beat Orange Coast, 71-63, in an Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball game Friday.

It was the 22nd consecutive time Golden West has beaten district-rival OCC.

The loss was especially frustrating for Orange Coast (21-7, 7-3), which started the game with a 16-2 run.

Golden West had trailed by as many as 12 in the first half and came back to win, 76-73, in the teams’ first meeting last month.

Friday, the Pirates led at the half, 29-23, and looked up to the task in the opening minutes of the second half.

But Golden West center Blythe Linsey led Golden West on a 28-7 run that put the Rustlers ahead, 63-50, with 6 minutes 4 seconds left.

Linsey, who didn’t start because she missed practice Thursday, had 11 of her 15 points in the run. She also had 14 rebounds in the game.

Orange Coast rallied for a 9-0 run and trailed, 63-59, with 3:30 left.

But Golden West then kept the ball in the hands of Ryan, a freshman guard from Edison High, who already has played two years of tennis for the Rustlers.

Starting with 1:37 left, she was fouled four times in the backcourt and made all eight free throws all in one-and-one situations.

“She plays so hard,” Golden West Coach Jim Greenfield said. “We would be nowhere without her.”

Tina Afan had 19 points and Jamie Shine had 16 points and 16 rebounds for OCC.

Ryan had 14 of her 16 in the second half and Caroline Monahan and Nicole Wiora each had 11 for Golden West (16-12, 6-4).