Sophomore Blaysen Varnadoe grabbed an early lead in the first quarter by blocking a layup by Saddleback.  Then sophomore Lauren Fruto scored two free throws and a jump shot to bring the Dons 4-0. Sophomore Alysia Gamboa added to the score by making two free throws followed by sophomore Taylor Ivicevic scoring a jump shot.  During the first half, Amy Talavou led the team with 8 points. Lauren Fruto had four rebounds for the Dons, but at the end of the half, the Gauchos led the Dons 45-34.

The Dons scored 17 points to Saddleback's 18 points in the third quarter, and then outscored the Gauchos by three in the fourth quarter. The Gauchos closed out the game with a 9-point advantage in the final quarter of the game.

Taylor Ivicevic was the leading scorer of the game with 22 points, while grabbing a game-high of seven rebounds, while Blaysen Varnadoe scored 16 points and had five rebounds. For this game, Santa Ana College was a 73.9% in free throws.

Women's basketball will play again in their next Orange Empire Conference game on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Cypress College at 5 p.m.