![Photo courtesy of Karl Boudiwan](/sports/wbkb/2024-25/IMG_5783.jpeg)
Late rally lifts Pirates past Vikings, 71-68
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team learned that no lead is safe -- in EITHER direction -- on Friday night as the Pirates blew a 16-point lead, then trailed by 13 midway through the fourth quarter, and STILL found a way to pull out a 71-68 win over visiting Long Beach City College in the OCC Crossover.
After leading 35-22 at the half and extending that margin to 38-22 early into the third quarter, the Pirates (7-2) were on cruise control against the Vikings (5-4). But LBCC found another gear and Coast couldn't match it as the Vikings closed out the third quarter with a 26-8 run and carried a 48-46 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
It only got worse for the hosts during the opening half of the fourth as the Vikings piled on the pressure and made baskets and ripped off an 18-7 outburst to carry a 66-53 advantage with just under four minutes left in the contest. In all, it was a 44-15 onslaught for the Vikings after falling behind by 16 ... but that's when the fun really began for the back-to-back defending state champs.
Coast picked up some huge points and stops on defense over the next few minutes of play, but the Pirates still trailed 67-58 with just over a minute left to play.
Kayla Borgelt got the comeback started with a layup to make it 67-60 with 1:14 remaining. A LBCC turnover was quickly followed with a made 3-pointer by Melaiah Joseph with 45 seconds remaining to make it 67-63, in favor of the Vikings.
Another turnover and another Joseph 3-pointer and suddenly it's a one-point game, with under 15 seconds remaining.
After another LBCC turnover gave the all back to the Pirates, Xio Cardona delivered the decisive blow with a 3-pointer in the corner with 5 seconds left to put OCC up, 69-67.
Long Beach quickly got the ball down the floor and a foul put Viking guard Kimberly Cruz-Martinez on the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game ... but she missed the first attempt, keeping Coast ahead for good.
Cruz-Martinez made the second free throw and after a quick foul sent Joseph to the charity stripe for OCC, she buried both of her shots to ice the game.
Joseph led Coast off of the bench with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Zoie Lamkin added 14 points. Borgelt tossed in 12 points and Hailey Estrada returned to the lineup with 11 points and six assists. Myia Collins anchored the boards with a team-best 13 rebounds.
For the Vikings, Brillana Boyd led the way with 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while Jasmine Hecht added 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
Day 2 of the OCC Crossover will feature the Vikings taking on Rio Hondo at 1 p.m., followed by the Pirates hosting Glendale at 3 p.m.