Pirates regroup, respond in scrimmage rematch with Chargers

COSTA MESA -- What a difference a day makes for the Orange Coast College women's basketball team, who jumped out quickly and rolled (unofficially)to a 51-40 "win" in Thursday's second scrimmage with Cypress College inside the Peterson Gym.

In a very balanced offensive performance, a trio of Pirate players -- Madison Copeland and Taylor Fullbright Kylie Pulsifer -- each (unofficially) scored nine points, while Ayanna Flakes added eight. Copeland and Fullbright also led another dominating performance on the boards with a combined 21 rebounds, while Pulsifer dished out a team-best four assists to go along with three steals.

Sulika Ili led Cypress' offense with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. 

Coast grabbed control of the scrimmage from the opening minutes and dominated the first quarter. After an ice-cold shooting night just 24 hours before, the Pirates couldn't miss early on and controlled the defensive end to grab an 18-6 lead after the opening 10 minutes. 

It only grew from there as a 7-0 run by Coast opened the second quarter to push the advantage up to 25-6 before the Chargers regrouped and began to chip away at the deficit, cutting it to 12 heading into the second half. 

The Chargers continued to push as the Pirate shooting cooled a bit and the guests got to within six (39-33) with 2:46 left in the third quarter before a big 3-pointer by Pulsifer in the final minute of the third stemmed the Cypress comeback. 

Coast was never threatened the rest of the way and showed vast improvements on both ends of the floor from its previous matchup with the Chargers on Wednesday.

The Pirates will return to action for a two-scrimmage series with Golden West College, beginning on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at GWC before the same two teams battle again on Thursday at OCC, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Once again, no fans will be allowed at either contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.