COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : No. 2 Golden West Rallies in 2nd Half to Turn Back OCC

Golden West, the second-ranked women’s basketball team in the state, rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to post an 85-75 victory over Orange Coast in an Orange Empire Conference game Wednesday at Golden West.

Trailing 44-35 at halftime, Golden West switched to a 2-1-2 zone defense in the second half.

After shooting 65% from the field in the first half, Orange Coast came out cold in the second half as Golden West (22-2, 2-0 in conference) opened with a 9-0 run in the first three minutes of the half to tie the score, 44-44.

Frances Oda, who had 17 points and five assists, made a three-pointer with 4 minutes 42 seconds remaining to cap a 15-4 run putting Golden West ahead, 77-62. Orange Coast (18-3, 2-1), which shot 33% from the field in the second half, could draw no closer than six points.

Cinnamon Basco had 23 points and 14 rebounds and Melanie Iwamasa scored 15 second-half points to finish with 20 for Golden West.

OCC’s Colleen Hatch scored a team-high 20 points and Ricarda Kuypers added 15.