Pirates grind out 45-44 win over Fullerton
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast (12-8, 3-1) | 12 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 45 |
|
Fullerton (4-11, 0-3) | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 44 |
FULLERTON -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to overcome a cold shooting night as the Pirates squeaked past Fullerton, 45-44, on Friday night inside the Hornets' gym.
Coast (12-8, 3-1 in Orange Empire Conference) picked up some much-needed offensive support from a pair of role players, Sarah Nunes and Sophia Guzman. Nunes came off the bench to lead the team with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Guzman added nine points and six rebounds, including a clutch 3-pointer in the game's final minutes.
Jasmine Young led Fullerton (4-11, 0-3) with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
In a game which both teams could not grab onto a big lead, Coast clung to a 41-40 lead with 2:52 left in the game before Guzman hit her third 3-pointer of the game, pushing the Pirates' lead to 44-40.
A made free throw by Chyann Pendergrass made it 45-40 before back-to-back layups by the Hornets, trimmed OCC's lead down to one in the game's final seconds. Emilee Dy's jump shot at the buzzer missed its mark and the Pirates escaped with the win.
Coast will return to action on Wednesday at Riverside City College, beginning at 7 p.m. OCC's next home game will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27 against Saddleback, also at 7 p.m.
