Coast drops 2-of-3 at IVC tourney

IRVINE -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team found scoring difficult this past weekend at the Irvine Valley College Tournament, losing 2-of-3 at the event. 

Despite not cracking the 50-point mark in any of the games, leaving OCC 5-6 overall through 11 games this year.
 
On Thursday, Coast opened things with a 49-46 overtime win over Grossmont. Ashley Engeln led the Pirates with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Jenna Arnett added seven points and 15 rebounds. Coast held the Griffins (3-8) to just 19-of-55 shooting from the field (34.5 percent).
 
On Friday, the offensive woes continued as Chaffey notched a 66-45 win over Coast in the championship semifinals. The long-range shooting for the Pirates was not to be found as they hit just 4-of-22 from beyond the 3-point arc (18.1 percent). Engeln again led the way with 16 points, while Anna Bartel added 11.
 
On Saturday, the scoring grinded to a near standstill as the Pirates took on host IVC in the third-place game. With two teams very familiar with each other, the two Orange Empire Conference foes battled each other for every single possession. In the end, the Lasers prevailed 36-34.
 
On the plus side, it was the fewest points allowed by the Pirates' defense since Jan. 18, 2008 (25 points allowed vs. Golden West). On the minus side, the 34 points scored was the third-fewest in school history. OCC's 1977-78 team posted a 24-point game and a 31-point game -- both against San Diego Mesa. The 70 combined points was the fewest points scored in school history. The previous low mark was during the 1987-88 season when Coast fell to Cuesta, 43-40.
 
After trailing 22-13 at the half, Coast went on a 15-0 run over the first 13 minutes of the second half, putting Coast up 28-22. But IVC overcame the 13-minute goose egg and outscored the Pirates 14-6 over the final seven minutes to win. Arnett anchored the boards with 15 rebounds and Engeln led Coast with 10 points in the loss.
 
For her all-around play, Bartel was named to the all-tournament team for Orange Coast.
 
OCC will return to the friendly confines of the Peterson Gym for the 2011 Erin Tomlinson Coast Christmas Classic, which kicks off on Friday.
 
Here is the opening-day schedule ...
 
1:30 p.m. -- Saddleback vs. Chaffey
3:30 p.m. -- Irvine Valley vs. Palomar
5:30 p.m. -- Canyons vs. Cuesta
7:30 p.m. -- Southwestern vs. Orange Coast.
 
Saturday's games will also be 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30. Sunday's consolation final will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by the third-place game at 1:30 p.m. and the tourney championship at 3:30 p.m.