DROPPED OEC OPENER DUE TO LATE SADDLEBACK SURGE
Fullerton faced a tough challenge at home Wednesday night hosting No. 22 Saddleback College in the Orange Empire Conference opener, and despite a strong effort came up short in a 78-61 loss.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
29 | 5 | 20 | 24 | 78 |
|
|
21 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 61 |
Team Stats
Saddleback
| Game Statistics | Saddleback | FULL |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (33-79) | (24-59) |
| Field Goal % | 41.8% | 40.7% |
| Rebounds | 44 | 44 |
| Assists | 29 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 20 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 16 | 4 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 10 | 7 |
| Pts in the Paint | 50 | 30 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 9 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 13 |
Fullerton faced a tough challenge at home Wednesday night hosting No. 22 Saddleback College in the Orange Empire Conference opener, and despite a strong effort came up short in a 78-61 loss.
The defeat drops Fullerton to 8-9 overall and 0-1 in OEC play, while Saddleback improves to 13-4 overall and is now 1-0 in conference.
Fullerton jumped out to an early 4-2 lead in the opening minutes, but Saddleback responded with a 16-6 run to seize control. By the end of the first quarter, the Bobcats held a 29-21 advantage.
The Hornets showed resilience in the second quarter storming back with a 9-0 run capped by a slashing layup from Erin Choi to briefly take the lead. From there, both teams traded baskets in a tightly contested stretch until the halftime buzzer with Saddleback clinging to a narrow 34-32 edge at the break.
The battle continued deep into the third quarter before the Bobcats created separation late closing the period on a 7-0 run to regain momentum.
In the fourth quarter, Saddleback took full control pulling away as the Hornets struggled to keep pace. The Bobcats built their largest lead of the night at 21 points in the final minutes to seal the conference-opening win.
Hailey Lakey had a huge night scoring a career-high 29 points with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Erin Choi scored 10 points, had 6 rebounds, and 11 assists for a double-double night. Femi Nodal put up 9 points with 3 boards, and Chloe Chang managed 6 points.
Up Next: Fullerton (8-9 overall, 0-1 OEC) hits the road Friday, January 9th for another Orange Empire Conference matchup at Riverside City College. Tipoff is set for 7:00 pm.
