Posted: Jan 18, 2014
Tigers Give Conference-leading Chargers All They Can Handle
Cypress
(13-8, 4-0 OEC)
73
Riverside
(6-12, 1-3 OEC)
71
| Final | 1 | 2 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cypress (13-8, 4-0 OEC) | 24 | 39 | 10 | 73 |
|
Riverside (6-12, 1-3 OEC) | 23 | 40 | 8 | 71 |
The visiting Cypress College Chargers got more than they bargained for as they came away with a 73-71 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) overtime win over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's basketball team Friday evening (Jan. 17) at Wheelock Gymnasium.
Riverside, which did its best impression of the "little train that could," nearly pulled off the upset in regulation time when an apparent three-point field goal was changed to a two-point basket with five seconds left. After a Cypress turnover with 2.2 seconds remaining, an official reversed the call to make the score 63-63, but apparently the Tigers didn't get the memo as they ran out the clock in the front court, much to the pleasure of the Chargers.
In overtime, with new life, the Chargers reverted to first-place form and pulled out the victory.
Cypress (13-8, 4-0 OEC) had 13 players see action, led by freshman guard Lauren Hong (Cerritos / St. Joseph HS) with a game-high 24 points. Hong, who made only three of eight free throws, converted charities at the :49 and :01.3 marks to secure the win. Sophomore center Haley Gorman (Stanton / Los Alamitos HS) had only three points, but pulled down nine rebounds and recorded six blocked shots.
Riverside (6-12, 1-3 OEC) ostensibly played its best game of the season against a quality opponent and was led by sophomore forward Mikayla Stitt (Riverside / Arlington HS) with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Freshman guard Tristan Gates (Riverside / Arlington HS) came off the bench to pump in 15 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and would have had a fourth if the original ruling had stayed.
After a bye from OEC action on Wednesday, Jan. 22, Riverside will return to action on Friday, Jan. 24, when it hosts the Irvine Valley College Lasers at 7:30 p.m.