Santa Ana Wins First Championship

Santa Ana fielded its first women’s basketball team in 1982, but it wasn’t until Friday night that the program won a conference championship.

The Dons clinched the Orange Empire title with a 75-59 victory over cold-shooting Orange Coast.

“I couldn’t be prouder of a bunch of girls,” Santa Ana Coach Jack Single said. “We showed in the last eight minutes how well we can play when we want to.”

Santa Ana (25-2, 12-0 in conference) was up by four at the half and led, 53-51, with seven minutes left.

But Stephanie Patten made four free throws, Lisa Arcangel scored eight points and Atari Parker added a basket, and Santa Ana was up, 67-56, with 1:50 left.

Parker and Arcangel finished with 20 points each and Kim Taylor added 12 for Santa Ana, which is ranked second in the state. The Dons have won 15 in a row. Both losses were to No. 1 Ventura.

“It was fun at the end,” Arcangel said, “but not in the middle. We may look like we are tired in the middle but we are saving it up for the end.”

Leah Wilde had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Orange Coast (24-5, 8-4), which made just 23 of 81 shots, including three of 25 three-point attempts.