MARAUDER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TAKES ANOTHER FOURTH PLACE IN TOURNAMENT

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

ORANGE COAST - Much like the game against Ventura on Tuesday night, the Marauder women's basketball team had a poor first quarter and couldn't respond losing 53-43 to Orange Coast College in the fourth place game of the Ventura Tournament.

"We didn't shoot well from 3-point range. For us to be successful we have to have some consistency from behind the arc," head coach Barry Green said. "It was a horrible first quarter. We just need that third perimeter scorer to knock down shots. We haven't gotten very much production from our wings."

AVC, which lost to Orange Coast for the second time this season, shot poorly throughout the game finishing only 27% from the field and only 2-of-16 from 3-point range.

Shekinah Broadway and Dir'Rashua Patterson finished with 10 points each. The Marauders have been decimated with depth this season only had six players suited for the game.

AVC rebounded the ball well as Shantanel Bivens had 13 rebounds and Mallorie Coefield had 12 rebounds and eight points. Patterson had nine rebounds and Broadway finished with eight.

VENTURA - The Marauder women's basketball team trailed 16-6 after the first quarter to host Ventura College and despite playing even the rest of the way the deficit was too much to erase, losing, 59-47, Tuesday night.

AVC was led by Shekinah Broadway who helped keep the Marauders in most of the game. The sophomore guard finished with 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Dir'Rashua Patterson, coming off her double-double on Monday against Southwestern College, finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

"I thought the girls played well. You almost have to play a perfect game to beat them," head coach Barry Green said. "We did some good things today, but depth wise we're hurting."

AVC (5-9) will play Orange Coast College tomorrow at 4pm for 3rd place in the tournament. Orange Coast has already defeated the Marauders once this season, and it was the second time this season that Ventura defeated AVC.

After being outscored by 10 points in the first quarter against Ventura, the Marauders only lost the last three quarters by a total of two points.

The Marauders only shot five free throws but made all of them. It was the first time since Dec. 15, 2007 in a game against Mt. San Jacinto, when AVC was 5-for-5 from the free throw line in that game as well.

SOUTHWESTERN - Shantanel Bivens recorded her sixth double-double of the season helping snap a 2-game losing streak by the Marauder women's basketball team as it cruised to an easy 50-37 victory over winless Southwestern College.

Bivens finished with 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. To complement Bivens' impressive evening was teammate Dir'Rashua Patterson who also finished with a double-double as she had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Shekinah Broadway gave Southwestern guards fits finishing with 10 points, eight steals and three assists.

"Our 1-3-1 zone defense was able to cause them turnovers and long perimter shots," head coach Barry Green said. "We were able to use our size advantage to score (the ball) inside."

The Marauders took advantage of Southwestern early by grabbing a 14-4 lead after the first period. They would never look back. Southwestern was able to cut into AVC's lead in the second period as the Marauders only led 20-15 at halftime. The Marauders were dominant in the second half outscoring their opponent, 30-22.