Riverside Holds Off Visiting Fullerton, 68-66, in Orange Empire Conference Win Wednesday

RIVERSIDE -- Jessica Reed sank a pair of free throws for her only two points of the game with 24 seconds to play to help the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's basketball team to a 68-66 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) home win over the visiting Fullerton College (FC) Hornets Wednesday evening (Jan. 13) at RCC's historic Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

Reed is a sophomore guard from Villa Park (Villa Park HS).

Fullerton guard Nancy De La Cruz splashed in a three-point field goal with eight seconds left for the game's final points.

After leading, 24-14, after the first quarter, RCC saw Fullerton outscore the Tigers in each of the next three quarters, but couldn't quite catch the hosts. RCC led, 60-49, with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter. Fullerton which committed two turnovers in the first quarter and three in the second stanza did not have a turnover in the entire second half.

Sophomore guard Jordan Lofton (Riverside / M.L. King HS '14) -- who is pictured -- tossed in a co-game-high 21 points for Riverside (13-6 overall, 3-0 OEC). Frosh guard Britney Gonzalez (Fontana / Jurupa Hills HS) chipped in with 19 points and six assists for RCC.

Frosh forward Paradise Hanchett (Moreno Valley / Rancho Verde HS) pulled down a game- and season-high 21 rebounds for the Tigers. In 19 games, Hanchett has led the team in rebounds 15 times, 13 of which were double-digit totals.

For Fullerton (4-10, 0-2 OEC), sophomore guard Emilee Dy (Diamond Bar / Pomona-Diamond Ranch HS) had a co-game-high 21 points, while frosh forward Monica Hana (Bellflower / Bellflower HS) came off the bench to toss in 18 points and yank down 14 rebounds.

The Tigers return to action on Friday, Jan. 15, when they visit the Cypress College Chargers in a 7 p.m. OEC tipoff.

-30-