SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Santa Ana Women's Basketball team got off to a slow start against Saddleback College on Wednesday night but found a way to fight off the Gauchos to earn their second Orange Empire Conference win by a score of 62-56.
Saddleback held the Dons scoreless for nearly three minutes to start the game, going up 5-0 until Alexis Casillas put SAC on the board with a couple of free throws. The Dons made their run shortly after that, scoring 11 unanswered points to take an 11-5 lead. From there, the teams battled back and forth until the half when Santa Ana went into the locker room with a 27-21 lead.
In the second half, both the Gauchos and the Dons had their runs again, making it a close game until Alekzandra Peggins hit a big three to push the Dons lead to 43-38 with 7:37 left in the game. Santa Ana seemed to have control of the game from there on out, eventually coming away with a 62-56 win.
Santa Ana's forwards did much of their damage in the paint, as Casillas came up with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three assists for yet another double-double, while Cheryl Caldera scored 21 of her own to go with seven rebounds.
Alekzandra Peggins was huge off the bench for the Dons, bringing energy and effort which led to six points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Santa Ana will head to Irvine Valley on Friday night for a shot at the 3-0 Lasers.