ELAC women’s basketball is 9-0 with title

CYPRESS, CA — With a shot at the buzzer from sophomore center Gloria Ortiz (Roosevelt HS), the No. 3-ranked East Los Angeles College women’s basketball defeated No. 5 Palomar College 72-70 (8-2) in the championship game of the 33rd Annual Lady Gaucho Classic.

Sophomore guard Katrina Reeves (Orlando, FL / Dr. Phillips HS) set up the play with a steal with eight seconds remaining in the game.

Ortiz received the Most Valuable Player Award. She came off the bench and scored a double double in the title game with 17 points scored and 11 rebounds. Reeves and sophomore guard Allissa Gomez (Roosevelt HS) made the All-Tournament Team.

Reeves also had a double double in the title game with 13 points scored and 11 rebounds and she added a game-high four blocked shots and had four steals. Gomez’s tournament totals included 44 points, 11 rebounds and a team-high 12 assists.

In the semifinal round, ELAC defeated No. 7 and host Cypress College (6-2) 94-56. Gomez scored a team-high 18 points while Reeves scored 17. ELAC defeated Citrus College (2-8) 95-37 in the first round.

Look for coverage of each Cypress tournament ELAC win at: http://athletics.elac.edu/sports/wbkb/2016-17/releases

The Huskies next compete in the Golden Gate Classic at San Francisco City College, Dec. 16 -18. The tournament features five ranked teams from a field of eight, including No. 2 San Francisco (6-1).

At 9-0 overall, ELAC is one of four remaining undefeated teams in the state. A possible semifinals matchup with No. 1 Sierra College (11-0) looms if both teams win first round games. ELAC plays Laney College on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. followed by a Sierra vs. Skyline College (4-2) matchup.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia