Gauchos too much for Warriors in opener

The Saddleback women's basketball team ran its winning streak to four on Monday with a 72-57 win over El Camino College in the opening round of the Orange Coast Christmas Classic.  The Gauchos will play the winner of Irvine Valley and Palomar on Tuesday.

Saddleback last played eight days ago in the Saddleback Tournament and some wondered if it would take time to kick off the rust after an eight-day layoff.  The Gauchos took some time to get going, but once they did they were off and running.

El Camino jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening quarter as Saddleback made just 1-of-7 shots to start the game and turned the ball over three times in the first 3.5 minutes.  The Gauchos finally got the offense cranked up at the 6:28 mark when Janae Omusi nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to 8-5.  Omusi again connected from downtown with 4:14 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to two.  She nailed her third three-pointer of the quarter with 2:25 remaining to tie the game at 18-18 and Saddleback never looked back for the rest of the day.  Kiazha Ginwright got into the action less than a minute later from beyond the arc for a 22-18 lead as the Gauchos eventually took a 24-18 lead into the second quarter. 

The Saddleback defense would hold El Camino scoreless for 3:21 while building up an eight point lead at the beginning of the second quarter.  After a made jump shot by Hunter Noa for the Warriors, El Camino would go another 2:45 without a point as the Gaucho lead grew to 30-20.  Saddleback would again build the lead to 10 at the half when Irma Ealy scored the final four points of the quarter.

The lead grew to 53-38 after three quarters as Ginwright and Ealy remained hot.  The two combined for 10 points in the quarter while the Gaucho defense forced seven turnovers by the Warriors. 

Saddleback cruised in the fourth quarter, building the lead to as many as 19 when Ginwright made a layup for a 70-51 lead.  Ginwright would finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds, fouling out of the game with just under two minutes remaining.  Omusi would lead the team with 21 points while Ealy added 15.

Saddleback is now 10-3 on the season and has won four straight games.  The Gauchos will take on the winner of Irvine Valley and Palomar, who were playing in the second quarterfinal on Monday afternoon.  Tip time on Tuesday is scheduled for 5:00 PM in the Orange Coast gymnasium.