SANTA ANA - The Dons were 19 seconds away from their first Orange Empire Conference victory of the season but had their hopes dashed on a late three-pointer in their 65-62 loss to Cypress College. The two teams entered the game as complete opposites with the Dons 0-6 in conference and the Chargers 6-0.

But it was Jeana Magana' three-pointer with 15 second remaining in the game that allowed Cypress (17-7) to escape with the win and a 7-0 mark in conference. The Dons (8-15, 0-7) had a chance for a go-ahead basket but Ashley Whisler's layup with five seconds left was blocked.

Cypress opened the game with six-straight points, four by Magana before the Dons answered with a 12-1 run capped off by a Kelly Smit three-pointer to take a 12-7 lead. The early runs continued as the Chargers answered back with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 12-12.

After Berlin Ohanesian hit a three to put the Dons up 15-12, Cypress reclaimed the lead with a 10-2 run to go up 22-17. The Chargers eventually went 27-19 for the largest lead of the half before taking a 27-20 lead into the break.

The Dons came back to grab their first lead of the second half just under five minutes in when Liliana Gonzalez hit a three-pointer followed by a pair of free throws by Carly Ducat that gave the Dons a 37-33 lead.

The lead went back to Cypress for several minutes as the Chargers took a seven point lead at 50-43 before the Dons rallied again. Whisler capped off an 8-0 run with a three-pointer to put the Dons up 51-50 with 8:19 left in the game.

Cypress reclaimed the lead at 52-51 and continued to lead until the 2:11 mark when Whisler hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 58-58. The Chargers hit two free throws to go back up two before Ducat hit a jumper in the paint to tie the game at 60-60.

The Dons were the next team to break the tie with Ducat forcing a turnover on defense before scoring on a layup that put the Dons up 62-60 with 19 seconds remaining. But the Chargers were able to connect on a late three in the corner to go up 63-62 before a pair of free throws after a Dons missed made the final score 65-62.

Whisler and Ducat led the way with 17 points apiece with Ducat also grabbing 14 rebounds. Gonzalez added another 15 points for the Dons. Magana led the Chargers with 17 points followed by Chelsea Walton with 11 points and Sloan Turner with 10 points.

The Dons hit the road for their next game as they take on Irvine Valley College on Friday at 7:30 p.m.