With six of the seven teams in action tonight, the battle for the Orange Empire Conference championship begins in women's basketball. Conference competition tips off with the defending OEC champs Irvine Valley College hosting Fullerton College while Riverside City College hosts Santa Ana College. Orange Coast College hosts Cypress College to round out the action while Saddleback College drew the opening bye. The Gauchos open OEC play Friday night at home against Riverside City.
Below is a short recap on each team's season heading into OEC play, in order of non-conference records.
CYPRESS COLLEGE – 13-4 overall record
The Chargers boast the conference's best non-conference record and are coming off a win over OEC foe Santa Ana College in the championship game of the Grossmont Tournament. That victory has Cypress at a four-game winning streak, the Chargers second of the season. Cypress has been led by Dominque Culho with 11.1 points per game and Alyssa Movchan with 10.4 ppg.
IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE – 12-4 overall record
The defending OEC Champion Lasers are just one win behind Cypress College in the standings and have yet to lose back-to-back games this season. One of their 12 victories came over Saddleback College in the third place game of the Coast Christmas Classic at Orange Coast College. The Lasers are currently riding a four-game win streak, their second of the season. Jordan Coleman enters OEC play tonight at exactly 10 points per game with teammate Tara Casey close behind at 9.9 ppg.
SANTA ANA COLLEGE – 11-5 overall record
The Dons enter OEC play tonight as the conference's top-scoring team at 76.8 points per game, eight points ahead of Cypress at 70.6 points per game. Santa Ana put together three-straight 93+ point performances to win its own tournament in December as part of a season-high five-game winning streak. The Dons have faced two OEC opponents, losing both games in tournament championship games. Santa Ana lost to Riverside City early in the season before last week's loss to Cypress. The Dons have three players scoring in the double digits led by the OEC's top-scorer Blaysen Varnadoe (19.9 ppg). Taylor Ivicevic (13.2 ppg) and Rachel Cain (10.1 ppg) are the other two.
RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE – 10-6 overall record
The Tigers open OEC play against Santa Ana College, the one OEC team they faced during non-conference action. That game resulted in an 83-67 win for the Tigers in the championship game of their own tournament. Riverside City closed out non-conference play with back-to-back wins in the Desert Winter Classic at College of the Desert to claim the consolation Championship. The Tigers have been led this season by Jordan Lofton (14.5 ppg) and DoyleBonet Walker (14.3 ppg).
ORANGE COAST COLLEGE – 9-7 overall record
The Pirates are coming off a consolation championship in the Ventura College Tournament in their last action. They also took second place in their host tournament while winning another consolation championship in the Lady Charger Classic at Cypress College. Orange Coast has one game under its belt against an OEC team, a 69-45 win over Saddleback College in the semifinals of the Coast Christmas Classic. Two Pirates are averaging double digits in scoring with Jenna Rodriguez averaging 14.9 points per game and Sami Little averaging 12.1 ppg.
FULLERTON COLLEGE – 4-6 overall record
Fullerton College opened its season with back-to-back wins over Moorpark College and Santa Barbara City College before notching wins over LA Trade-Tec and San Diego Mesa College. The victory over Mesa saw the Hornets scoring 91 points, their highest output of the season. Emilee Dy leads the way for Fullerton with 13.9 points per game.
SADDLEBACK COLLEGE – 7-11 overall record
The Gauchos have seen a pair of OEC opponents already this season with back-to-back losses against Orange Coast College and Irvine Valley College at the Coast Christmas Classic. They do, however, have a third place finish under their belt with a 49-36 win over Chaffey College in the Panther Pride Classic at Chaffey. That win was followed by a 60-55 victory over Barstow College at the Lady Bulldog Classic at Allan Hancock College. Teoncea Bennett is the top-scorer for the Gauchos with 11.2 points per game.