Cats edge Spartans for fifth win

The Saddleback women's basketball team defeated MiraCosta College, 80-77, on Tuesday night inside the gymnasium.  The win avenged a loss against the Spartans last month.

Saddleback came into the matchup looking to get some revenge after losing to MiraCosta, 57-72, on November 22 in the San Diego City College Tournament.  The Bobcats played with enthusiasm throughout, taking a big lead and hanging on for the win.

Saddleback trailed only once the entire game after MiraCosta started with a 3-2 lead in the opening minute of the game.  The Bobcats quickly turned the tables, scoring the next 10 points while the defense held the Spartans scoreless for close to 2.5 minutes.  Saddleback started the rally with hot shooting from the outside as Audrey Chow nailed a three-pointer and later Moanike'ala Scott buried another as the Bobcats sent a message that it was going to be a 40-minute fight.

Saddleback built the lead to as many as 10 in the opening half, thanks in large part to Scott.  The sophomore from Mililani (HI) had 14 points in the opening half, making 3-of-7 shots from beyond the arc as the Bobcats carried a 42-34 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Saddleback's lead dwindled to two points in the third quarter as MiraCosta scored the first six points over the first three minutes.  The Bobcats finally got the ship steered in the right direction when Audrey Chow made a jumper to get the offense back on track. 

The game remained tight until late in the third quarter when Chow made back-to-back three-pointers to put the Bobcats up 53-47.  Saddleback would take a 57-55 advantage into the fourth quarter after going silent over the final two minutes of the quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to Makayla Rutledge.  She scored 10 points with four rebounds in the final quarter as the Spartans had no answer inside. Rutledge and the Bobcats had an answer every time MiraCosta made a run.  Saddleback had as much as an 11-point lead in the quarter when MiraCosta made a run to make things interesting.  The Spartans tied the game at 73-73 when Le Aundra Walker-Brown made a jumper with 1:32 remaining on the clock.  Saddleback answered the call when Jamie Ponteres buried a three-pointer for a 76-73 advantage.  On the next two possessions, Rutledge answered baskets from the Spartans with baskets of her own.  Her final bucket came with 16 seconds remaining to give the Bobcats an 80-77 lead.  MiraCosta would fail to get a shot off in the final seconds in an attempt to tie the game.

Rutledge and Chow finished with 18 points apiece to lead the team, while Scott finished with 16 points and Ponteras chipped in with 15 of her own.  The Bobcat defense was fierce on the other end of the court, forcing MiraCosta into 24 turnovers for the night.

Saddleback is now 5-7 overall for the season.  The Bobcats will play again on Friday night at Chaffey College at 7:00 PM.