Pirates kick off season with win over Sequoias
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sequoias (0-1) | 13 | 13 | 11 | 26 | 63 |
|
Orange Coast (1-0) | 26 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 67 |
WALNUT -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team found a way to win in its season-opener as the Pirates topped College of the Sequoias, 67-63, on Friday night at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament.
In a matchup that featured half of last year's State Final Four, the Pirates gave the Giants their first loss of the season, matching that team's TOTAL losses from a season ago (33-1).
McKenzie Gillman led the Pirates with 14 points, while Kayla Borgelt added nine. Karley Waite controlled the boards with eight rebounds to go along with seven points, while Melaiah Joseph overcame a rough shooting night to contribute five points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, helping the Pirates in other areas.
Sequoias was led by Gabby Brooks with 13 points and Nyla Anderson with 10.
Coast came out shooting right from the opening tip-off and used a 26-point first quarter to give OCC a 13-point lead on the Giants.
The OCC lead was 11 at the half. 11 through three quarters and 11 a minute into the fourth quarter, before COS held the Pirates off of the scoreboard over a span of three minutes, allowing the Giants to score nine straight to trail only by two with 4:46 remaining.
But Coast never allowed the Giants to level up or take the lead and clutch free throws from Joseph and Andrea Rico in the final 36 seconds helped seal the deal for the Pirates.
Coast will return to action on Saturday in the Mt. SAC Tournament against Laney College, beginning at 5 p.m. OCC will wrap up their tourney play this weekend on Sunday against Moorpark, beginning at 3 p.m.
