Pirates capture OEC title with 85-56 win over Dons
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Ana (9-16, 4-7) | 9 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 56 |
|
Orange Coast (26-1, 10-1) | 14 | 22 | 26 | 23 | 85 |
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team have pushed for greatness the entire season and the first step towards the history books was made complete on Tuesday night as the Pirates topped Santa Ana, 85-56, to capture the Orange Empire Conference championship for the first time in 15 seasons.
The last OEC crown for the women's basketball team came back in the Mike Thornton era when the Pirates won back-to-back titles in the 2006-07 season and again in the 2007-08 campaign.
"I am so pround of this group," OCC head coach Sammy Doucette said after capturing her first OEC title as Pirate head coach. "I'm so tough on them and they work so hard. It's just so special to see a group come together, love one another and believe in each other."
Karina Cabrera led the Pirates (26-1, 10-1 in the OEC) with 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Annie Trinh added 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. Meghan McIntyre had no problem playing "third fiddle" on Tuesday as the Dons focused their attention on get the ball out of her hands on offense. No problem ... she finished with 16 rebounds and six assists to go along with her nine points.
Other OCC players stepped out and made big baskets to get the Pirates going, including Noelle Duffey (eight points), Ashlee Dorantes (eight points, six rebounds) and Jade Quinonez (seven points).
The Dons (9-16, 4-7), who handed OCC its only loss of the season back on Jan. 20 (66-61 at SAC), couldn't keep up with the barrage of 3-pointers that rained down. Coast went 14-of-48 from beyond the arc and also dominated the rebounding, 62-40, including 25 offensive boards for the Pirates.
Selena Hernandez led SAC with 24 points, while Sophia Escalante added 18.
Coast will wrap up the regular season on Thursday at home against Riverside, beginning at 5 p.m.
