Dons Season Ends with 74-64 Loss to Saddleback College

The Dons four sophomores were honored prior to their final game of the season. From left to right, Andrea Thompson, Emily Hale, Berlin Ohanesian and Liliana Gonzalez. Photo courtesy of Tony McAndrew.
The Dons four sophomores were honored prior to their final game of the season. From left to right, Andrea Thompson, Emily Hale, Berlin Ohanesian and Liliana Gonzalez. Photo courtesy of Tony McAndrew.

SANTA ANA - The Dons were unable to hold on to their halftime lead as they gave up a late rally in their 74-64 loss to Saddleback College in the final game of the season. The Dons wrap up their season with a 9-19 record and a 1-11 mark in the Orange Empire Conference while Saddleback finishes with a 15-14 record and a 6-6 record in conference.

After Saddleback grabbed the first lead of the game, the Dons overtook the lead at 5-4 and continued to lead until the Gauchos forced a 20-20 tie with six minutes left in the game. The Dons broke that tie with an 11-1 run to establish a 10-point lead with 3:32 left before taking a 31-27 lead into the half.

Saddleback came back to tie the game five times in the first five minutes of the second half before reclaiming the lead at 42-40. The Gauchos would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game despite several rallies by the Dons. The Dons final rally came with five minutes left in the game when Liliana Gonzalez hit a three-pointer to pull the Dons within one at 59-58. However, Saddleback would answer with an 11-0 run to take a commanding 70-58 lead before winning 74-64.

Ohanesian led the Dons with 19 points and 12 rebounds followed by Ashley Whisler who scored 16 points. Gonzalez rounded out the Dons double digit scorers with 10 points. The Gauchos were led by Brooke Wright who scored a game high 26 points followed by Myishia Watkins with 14 points and Karla Roacho-Cota with 12 points.