Pirates survive late rally to topple Mt. SAC, 67-64

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball had a statement win on Thursday night as the Pirates defeated the state's top-ranked team, Mt. San Antonio, 67-64, on Thursday night inside the Peterson Gym in a battle between two of the top teams in all of California community college.

The win improves the No. 3-ranked and defending state champion Pirates to 4-0, while the loss is the first blemish on the Mounties' record (3-1) through their first four contests.

Bridgette McIntyre had a home opener to remember for the Pirates, scoring 29 points to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and four steals. Ashari Cassell added 23 points on just 11 shots taken with four assists.

For the Mounties, Daisia Mitchell had 21 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocks, while Carley Bolden and Dailani Richardson tossed in 15 points each.

Coast carried the lead through most of the first half and used a 26-16 second quarter to grab a 43-31 advantage at the half. OCC pulled away from the Mounties over the last three minutes with a 13-4 run, giving the hosts some much-needed breathing room against a very tall and aggressive Mt. SAC squad.

The lead got as large as 14 for the Pirates early in the third, but the Mounties stayed in the neighborhood and trailed only by eight after three quarters of play, 56-48.

With 4:01 remaining, it was a 10-point cushion and things looked fine for the Pirates, but, the Mounties turned up the defensive pressure and forced the Pirates into several early-season mistakes down the stretch. Coast was held without a point for the next 3:45 as the Mounties pulled to within a point at 65-64. A Bolden jumper with 16 seconds left got Mt. SAC as close as possible, but the Mounties HAD to foul and they did so to Jordan Arreola, who had had a rough night and was held scoreless. But, the sophomore transfer from Butte College stepped up and made two crucial free throws to push the Pirates' lead back up to three at 67-64.

Richardson came back down the floor and tried to tie the score but a missed 3-point attempt ended up in the arms of OCC's Makena Ching with six seconds remaining. The freshman forward missed both free throws, but with only just a few seconds left, a 30-foot, 3-point attempt by Mitchell at the buzzer missed its mark, giving the Pirates a very impressive win against a very good Mt. SAC program.

Both teams struggled against the other team's pressure defense and it showed in the turnover category (OCC 21, Mt. SAC 20), with 11 of those Pirate miscues coming in the final quarter.  

What looked to be a considerable size advantage was muted by the hard work of the Pirate post players, including Alyssa Dreessen (seven rebounds) and Myia Collins (six rebounds).

OCC will return to the Peterson Gym on Saturday to take on L.A. Valley College, beginning at 1 p.m.