Pirates board up Tigers in second half, win 67-56

COSTA MESA -- After a barrage of offensive rebounds allowed, the Orange Coast College women's basketball team clamped down in the second half and pulled away from visiting Riverside City College, 67-56, on Wednesday night in a crucial Orange Empire Conference matchup.

The Pirates (17-9, 5-3 in OEC) allowed a whopping 19 offensive rebounds in the first half, allowing the Tigers (16-8, 3-4) several put-back opportunities and multiple second- and third-chance shots.

After leading by just one point at the break (33-32), Coast pounded the glass and pulled away from RCC (16-8, 3-4) in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers, 23-14. In that third quarter, Riverside was held to 5-of-14 and ZERO offensive rebounds, while OCC used its aggressive play to earn several trips to the foul line (7-of-11).

Sydney Driggs, who led the Pirates with 17 points, drained a pair of 3-pointers and after a Michelle Wu trey, Coast pushed its lead out to 42-33.

Riverside clawed back with a 13-6 run to get to within a pair at 48-46. Britney Gonzalez, who led the Tigers with 24 points, made 11 straight points during that RCC run.

But the Pirates capped off the third with eight straight points, capped off by a Driggs' 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The lead grew to as many as 15 and the Tigers never threatened again.

Strong bench play by Megan McCullough (13 points) and Sarah Nunes (eight points, 11 rebounds) helped Coast to the victory. Wu finished with 11 points, while Chyann Pendergrass added nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The win keeps the Pirates within striking distance of first-place Saddleback (7-1 in conference) and second-place Cypress (6-1 in OEC) and puts some breathing room between themselves and fourth-place Riverside in the conference standings.

Coast will return to action on Friday at Cypress College (7 p.m.). OCC's next home game will take place on Wednesday against Santa Ana College (7 p.m.).