ELAC Women’s Basketball Stunned in Overtime

MONTEREY PARK, CA —  Suited with a roster of only six, the East Los Angeles College women’s basketball team lost to Moorpark College in Round One of the 6th Annual Husky Classic Tournament.

Although ELAC’s roster was cut short due to holiday illnesses, it didn’t deter the Huskies from playing an outstanding game. ELAC came up short against the highest ranked team in the tournament other than themselves.

“We played with a lot of guts, but didn’t execute at the end and didn’t finish the course,” said ELAC Coach Bruce Turner. “We were not outmatched. I’m proud of the team, they played with their hearts.”

The Lady Huskies, No. 10 in the state, fall to 8-5 overall and Moorpark, ranked No. 11 in the South Region Poll, improves to 9-4.

The first half had 10 lead changes and six ties. The score was knotted 12-12 after the first quarter and ELAC outscored Moorpark 18-15 in the second.

In the second quarter, ELAC sophomore forward Monica Garcia (Garfield High School) scored seven points and upstart Mercedes Ortiz (Garfield HS) added six. Guard Emily Herring (9 points) and center Barbara Rangel (6 points) scored all of Moorpark’s 15 points. ELAC led at the half 30-27.

ELAC did its halftime homework and in the third quarter held Herring to four points and Rangel to two, but forward Kelsea Illengo scored half of Moorpark’s third quarter points. Moorpark outscored ELAC 20-15 in the frame. The third quarter had 10 lead changes and five ties and ended with ELAC down 47-45.

ELAC outscored Moorpark 20-18 in the fourth quarter and the game ended in a 65-65 tie. Moorpark shut the door on the home team in overtime with a five-minute 16-5 run.

Five Huskies scored in double figures. Garcia led the Huskies with her seventh double double of the season. She scored a team-high 20 points, had a game-high (tie) 15 rebounds and had two blocked shots.

Freshman forward Dominique Godbolt (Fairfax HS) finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a game-high three blocked shots. Ortiz scored 15 points and finished with a season-high five rebounds. Sophomore guard Destinee Anaya (Irving, TX / MacArthur HS) scored 11 points. Sophomore guard Kimberly Peraza (Downey HS) scored 10 points.                     

Guard Sydney Arikawa led Moorpark with a game-high 23 points, Herring finished with 17 points, Rangel had a double double with 15 points and 15 rebounds and she had two blocked shots.

“We played a good game adjusting to a team of six players,” said Peraza. “Tomorrow we will come out stronger and close it out for the win.”

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story submitted by Tadzio Garcia