Pirates reach tourney title game before falling to host Chargers

CYPRESS -- After a slow start to the season, the Orange Coast College women's basketball team picked up a couple of solid wins at last weekend's Cypress College Tournament before falling to the host Chargers in the championship game.

Coast (2-5) opened the tournament on Friday with a 75-67 win over Grossmont. It was a tale of two halves for the Pirates as they fell behind 34-19 at the half, only to come alive and score 56 points in the second half en route to the win.

Nicole Beaudoin led Coast with 19 points, while Deanna Fink came off of the bench for 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Jasmine Matar also contributed a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Maddy Seward and Danielle Obong each chipped in eight points and six rebounds off the bench.

It was a ragged game to say the least as both teams combined for 87 free-throw attempts (50 for Coast, 37 for Grossmont), but in the end, the Pirates won the game from the line, outscoring the Griffins 30-14 in that category.

In the championship semifinals, the Pirates edged West L.A., 69-66, behind a huge game from Matar, who led the way with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Beaudoin chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and four assists and Kawa Andrade was strong on the boards with 11 rebounds to to along with four points and three steals.

Matar scored the last six points for the Pirates over the final two minutes to ensure the win and move Coast into the championship game agains the host Chargers.

In the title game, Cypress came out strong and never looked back, topping the Pirates, 84-69. Coast trailed 55-41 at the half but another strong performance by Matar helped Coast get to within five at 74-69 with 3:57 left in the game.

But that would be as close as the Pirates would get as Cypress closed things out with a 10-0 run to claim their own tourney title.

Matar finished with a game-high 27-points and 12 rebounds, while Beaudoin chipped in 11 points and five assists and Obong added 10 points.

The Pirates return to tourney action on Thursday at the Irvine Valley College Tournament, against Pasadena City College beginning at 4 p.m.