Gauchos fall in Panther Pride finals

The Saddleback women's basketball team came up short in the finals of the Chaffey College Panther Pride Tournament on Sunday, falling to Mt. San Jacinto College 67-60.  The Gauchos had the lead at half before the Eagles made a run.

Saddleback looked primed to win its first it first tournament in nearly a decade as they took a 36-29 lead into the locker rooms against a Mt. San Jacinto squad that hasn't lost all season.  The Gauchos jumped out of the gate quickly when Janae Omusi drilled a three-pointer to start the game and then made two free throws on the next possession for a 5-0 lead.  Omusi would score nine in the quarter as Saddleback had an 18-12 lead after one quarter.

Saddleback extended the lead to nine in the second quarter after Laura Tapia made good from long range at the 2:36 mark for a 33-24 advantage.  Mt. San Jacinto then started chipping away at the lead as the Gauchos went through a cold spell.  Saddleback went nearly two minutes without a point as the Eagles cut the lead to 34-29 with 28 seconds remaining in the half.  Kara Ito stopped the bleeding with four seconds remaining when she made a lay-up.  It was two of Ito's eight points in the quarter and sent Saddleback to the locker room feeling comfortable.

The Gauchos saw the lead disappear quickly in the second half as they came out ice cold, making just one basket over the first 2.5 minutes as Mt. San Jacinto tied the game at 38-38 at the 7:27 mark.  Omusi made a jumper followed by Ito at 5:32 as Saddleback grabbed back a three-point lead, but it was the largest lead the Gauchos would have the rest of the way.  The Eagles took the lead at 43-42 when Kristian Dewitt made two free throws with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter and would never give it up the rest of the way.  Omusi made a jumper with 1:32 remaining to tie the game at 48-48, which marked the last time Saddleback had a piece of the lead.

From that point forward, Saddleback went ice cold.  The Gauchos failed to score for the next 3:49 of the game as Mt. San Jacinto built a 57-48 lead.  Omusi did everything she could to keep Saddleback in the game.  She made two free throws with 1:14 remaining to get the Gauchos back within 63-60.  Unfortunately, a turnover and technical foul in the closing moments left Mt. San Jacinto at the free throw line to ice the game.

Omusi finished a stellar performance with a game-high 29 points and 16 rebounds.  It was the highest point total for a Gauchos since Deja Brooks scored 34 for the Gauchos during the 2014-15 season.  Ito (pictured) finished with a season-high 12 points. 

Saddleback is now 6-3 on the season while Mt. San Jacinto improved to 9-0.  The Gauchos will play next on Friday against MiraCosta College in the San Diego City College Tournament.  Tip time is set for 12:00 PM.