Dons Defeat Fullerton 68-52 for their First Orange Empire Conference Victory of the Year

Ashley Whisler hits one of her five three-pointers in the Dons 68-52 win over Fullerton College. Photo by Tony McAndrew.
Ashley Whisler hits one of her five three-pointers in the Dons 68-52 win over Fullerton College. Photo by Tony McAndrew.

SANTA ANA - The Dons used a big second half to notch their first Orange Empire Conference win of the year with a 68-52 victory over Fullerton College. The Dons (9-16, 1-8) got big games from Carly Ducat, Berlin Ohanesian and Ashley Whisler to pull away from the Hornets (6-16, 2-6).

After holding an early 11-6 lead off back-to-back three-pointers by Ohanesian and Ducat, the Dons found themselves trailing halfway through the first half. But Emily Hale and Ducat scored back-to-back baskets to give the Dons a one-point lead before Kelly Smit's three at the 8:31 mark put the Dons up four.

Fullerton would come back to tie the game at 25-25 with 6::24 left before Amber Washington's layup put the Hornets up 27-25. The Dons continued to use the three-pointer, this time by Whisler who put SAC up for good at 28-27.

After the Dons carried a two-point lead into the half at 34-32, Fullerton traded a Ducat layup with a Tatiana Scott three-pointer to cut the Dons lead to one at 36-35 less than one minute into the second half. However, that would be the closest that Fullerton would get for the remainder of the game.

The Dons proceeded to go on a 13-4 run to go up by 10 at 49-39 and would lead by at least eight points before eventually building their largest lead of the game at 68-50 in the final minute.

Whisler led all scorers with 20 points while Ducat scored 16 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. Ohanesian grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds to go along with her 15 points. Hale rounded out the Dons scorers in double digits with 12 points.

Fullerton was led by Stephanie Drayer who scored 15 points while Washington added 13 points.

The Dons next game is this Friday when they host Orange Coast College at 7:30 p.m.