![Photo courtesy of Peter Mondrick](/sports/wbkb/2024-25/Glendale_winner.jpg)
Joseph's late three propels Pirates past Glendale
![Glendale](https://cdn.prestosports.com/action/cdn/logos/id/l0soy5swxmk74erh.png)
![Orange Coast](https://cdn.prestosports.com/action/cdn/logos/id/4184tflzshar6usm.png)
Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Glendale (5-3) | 13 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 59 |
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Orange Coast (8-2) | 12 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 63 |
Glendale
Game Statistics | Glendale | Orange Coast |
---|---|---|
Field Goals | (24-53) | (25-63) |
Field Goal % | 45.3% | 39.7% |
Rebounds | 41 | 27 |
Assists | 14 | 16 |
Turnovers | 19 | 6 |
Pts off Turnovers | 9 | 21 |
2nd Chance Pts | 10 | 11 |
Pts in the Paint | 22 | 18 |
Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 4 |
Bench Pts | 17 | 13 |
COSTA MESA -- Another day, another hero for the Orange Coast College women's basketball team as the Pirates used a last-second 3-pointer from Melaiah Joseph to slip past visiting Glendale College, 63-59 on Saturday on Day 2 of the OCC Crossover, played inside the Peterson Gym.
For the second time in as many days the Pirates (8-2) overcame a double-digit, second-half deficit and pulled out the late win over the Vaqueros (5-3) in a state finals rematch from a year ago.
The Pirates struggled in the first half to find the bottom of the net, while the Vaqueros frustrated Coast with their 2-3 zone and carried a 35-26 lead into the second half of play.
The lead grew to as many as 13 (39-26) early in the third, when Coast made an offensive adjustment and found some success in the post game, led by Alyssa Dreessen, who helped spark a 20-8 run to close out the third quarter, bringing the Pirates to within a point at 47-46 with 10 minutes of basketball still left to be played. Dreessen and Pirate teammate Myia Collins each had six points in the third down in the post, which freed up better looks for Hailey Estrada and Zoie Lamkin, who each hit 3-pointers to highlight the 20-12 scoring advantage in the third quarter.
Both teams went back and forth with the lead midway through the fourth before GC's Malia Ulery nailed a 3-pointer and layup, which put the Vaqueros ahead, 59-54, with 3:34 left in the game. Ulery, one of the top sophomores in the all of California Community College women's basketball, went 6-of-8 from 3-point range and finished with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. Down low, Shadel Ffrench added 14 points and a whopping 17 rebounds, while Shushan Krikorian tossed in 11 points.
But that would be it for the Glendale offense the rest of the way, as OCC's relentless defensive pressure and some late baskets proved to be the right formula for the comeback win. Coast forced 21 Glendale turnovers, including three in the final two minutes of the game.
Layups from Dreessen and Collins brought Coast back to within a point at 59-58 with 1:57 remaining and it stayed that way until Coast was forced to foul four times in a row to force free throws and get the ball back for one final possession. Glendale missed both free throws with 17 seconds left and after OCC's final timeout, Xio Cardona moved the ball over to Joseph, who stepped up and drilled a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left, putting Coast ahead, 61-59.
Glendale's final possession ended in a turnover and steal by Dreessen and after fouls put the Pirates to the free-throw line, Joseph stepped up and made them both, putting the Pirates ahead for good.
Dreessen led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Collins (six rebounds, six assists) and Lamkin each added 12 and Joseph tossed in 10, including five in the final 10 seconds.
Coast will hit the road for the remainder of December and will play again on Thursday at the L.A. Valley College Tournament against San Diego Mesa College, beginning at 7 p.m. OCC's next home game will be on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against Cypress College, beginning at 5 p.m.