Saddleback Clinches Women's Basketball OEC Title with Win in Final Game
Saddleback College and Orange Coast College were tied going into the final game of the season and the Gauchos pulled off a 54-35 win over Fullerton College to claim the OEC Championship.
With a 54-35 win to close out the season, the Saddleback College women's basketball team was crowned the champions of the Orange Empire Conference. The Gauchos finised the season 10-2 in the conference and 19-10 overall to win their first championship since the 2002-03 season.
Following in a close second was Orange Coast College as the Pirates saw their title hopes dashed in a 53-51 loss to Riverside City College in the season finale. The Pirates, who finished 9-3 in conference, rallied from a first half deficit but ultimately fell on a pair of free throws late in the game.
Third place was shared by Irvine Valley College and Cypress College as both teams finished with matching 7-5 records in conference. Cypress closed out its season with a win over Santa Ana College while Irvine Valley won its last game over Riverside.
The aforementioned Santa Ana team followed in fifth place with a 4-8 mark just ahead of Fullerton College in sixth placee with a 3-9 record. Riverside City rounds out the standings as the Tigers finished 2-10, placing them seventh in the conference.