Pirates topple first-place Saddleback, 62-54

COSTA MESA -- On a team with thinning sophomore experience, Melaiah Joseph stepped up and was heard with a clutch performance as the Orange Coast College women's basketball team topped first-place Saddleback, 62-54, on Wednesday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Joseph finished the night with 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 5 3-pointers and was a solid 5-of-7 from the foul line. The sophomore guard also led the Pirates (16-6, 4-2 in the Orange Empire Conference) with 11 rebounds to help neutralize the size advantage of the Bobcats (17-5, 5-1) down low.

Lexi Mercado and Madisyn Foulk each added eight points for Coast, while Andrea Rico tossed in six. Off the bench, Sydney Sloan played well down low and grabbed nine rebounds in just 15 minutes of work. 

Makayla Rutledge led the Bobcats with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kassidy Beach battled foul trouble throughout the game, but still tossed in 11 points and grabbed four rebounds.

Coast grabbed the early lead and never relinquished it. With Beach on the bench with two quick fouls, OCC took advantage of the extra space and carried a 28-23 lead into halftime. 

In the third quarter, Joseph went to work, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds over that 10-minute span and helping the Pirates lead 46-34 with one quarter of play left to go.

The lead grew to as many as 17 before the Bobcats showed why they won their first five OEC matchups. Trailing 51-34, Saddleback went on a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes and suddenly, the Bobcats trailed only by five at 55-50 with 2:22 remaining in the game.

Saddleback had a pair of opportunities to get to within one possession of tying the game, but a pair of shots missed their mark, keeping the lead safe enough for the Pirates to maintain.

After a rough night from the free-throw line, Coast made their courtesy shots down the stretch, going 6-of-9 from the line over the minute of play to secure the win.

The win gives Coast some much-needed momentum heading into the second half of OEC play. The Pirates are now tied for second with Cypress and just one game behind Saddleback and Irvine Valley.

Coast will kick off the final six games of the regular season at Riverside City College on Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m.