Four Teams Ranked in Top-25 to Begin Conference Season

The always-competitive Orange Empire Conference will feature four out of seven teams that rank in the top 25 of the CCCWBCA State rankings. From the latest poll on January 6th, Orange Coast ranks 3rd, Cypress 10th, Santa Ana College 16th, and Fullerton 20th.

Riding the wave of back-to-back OEC and state titles, the Orange Coast College Pirates are once again a contender ranking 3rd in state with a 13-3 overall record. The team has 5 sophomores with four of them coming back from last season's title run. Leading the Pirates in scoring is first-year player Melaiah Joseph, who is averaging 13.1 points a game with 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Rolling right behind is another freshman in Zoie Lamkin with 12.6 ppg and 3.6 rebounds a game. Sophomore center Alyssa Dreessenhas been strong in the key with 11.5 ppg and leads the team in rebounds with 7.8 a game. She is also averaging 2.3 blocks a game. Another returner, Myia Collins, is putting up 10.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 3.8 assists per game. After dropping two games to No. 1 College of the Sequoias, and one to No. 2 Mt. SAC, the Pirates are going favored to repeat as the OEC champs leading the conference in scoring at 68.6 ppg.

Cypress College comes in as the No. 10 team in the state with an 11-5 overall record. The Chargers have beaten some tough teams this season in No. 2 Mt. SAC, No. 18 Palomar, and No. 19 Fresno. Sophomore guard/forward Chelsea Caldera leading the team in scoring with 203 points (12.7 ppg). She is also averaging 5.5 rpg with 2.9 assists per game. First-year guard Christaesha Jackson has scored 141 points (8.8 ppg), is bringing down 8.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Freshman guards Kalysa Ng (8.1 ppg/4.2 rpg/2.5 apg) and Andrea Lopez (7.5 ppg/2.4 rpg) have also been solid contributors to the Charger's success so far this season.

Another OEC team making waves this season has been No. 16 Santa Ana College with an impressive 12-3 overall record. The Don's three losses were against quality teams No. 13 San Diego Mesa, No. 15 Santa Barbara, and Cuesta. Santa Ana is one of the top scoring teams in the OEC ranking two just under OCC at 68.3 points a game. The big weapon for the Dons has been freshman forward Anaya Beard, who has a total of 240 points (16 ppg) and is bringing down 16 rebounds a game. Sophomore guard Larissa Robles has been anchoring the team with 12 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 4.1 apg. Two more first-year guards have been big contributors in Kiki Graham (11.4 ppg/4 rpg/3 apg) and Mia Rivera (10. ppg/4.6 rpg/4.2 apg). This Dons team will be one to watch as the season progresses as they have the scoring power and talent to make a run at the OEC title.

The No. 20 Fullerton College Hornets have had a strong first half of the season under third-year head coach Dan Desmond. The Hornets, 12-4 overall, began the season with a 5-0 record before talking their first loss against No. 6 Glendale. Fullerton can score with the best of them ranking 3rd in the conference with 67.9 points a game. Leading the way for FC is sophomore forward Xochitl Hood, who is scoring 15.4 ppg (231 points) with 8.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Another sophomore scorer is guard Kaylee Shimoda. She can hit the three and drive the lane scoring 13.1 points a game, averages 3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. A pair of freshmen have also been a breath of fresh air for the Hornets in Erin Choi (10.9 ppg/3.1 rpg/2.9 apg) and Hailey Lakey (9.5 ppg/7.1 rpg/1.5 apg). Fullerton has the talent to make some noise this season, but it will take some lockdown defense to beat the high-scoring teams within the Orange Empire Conference.

Currently unranked but very competitive, the Riverside City College Tigers currently have an overall record of 9-7. The Tigers have two of the top scorers in the OEC in sophomore guard N'Dya Parks (20.7 ppg/12.6 rpg/3 apg) and freshman guard Talia Washington (19.3 ppg/5.2 rpg/2.1 apg). Sophomore guard Nave'ah Pina (9.4 ppg/5.3 rpg) and first-year guard Ariel Perkins (9.4 ppg/7 rpg/5 apg) both have been solid players for this talented RCC squad.

Coming in right at .500 is Irvine Valley College with an 8-8 overall record. This Laser team can battle with the best of them recently defeating No. 13 in state San Diego Mesa 46-45 last Friday night. Two scorers have been leading the way for IVC with sophomore guard Moka Saiki (12.3 ppg/3 rpg/2.6 apg) and freshman guard Samantha Barnett (11.4 ppg/5.8 rpg) both scoring in double-digits. Two first-year forwards have been putting up good numbers in Alexis Price (9.1 ppg/6.5 rpg) and Neryah Lokeni (8.9 ppg/5.3 rpg).

Saddleback College has also been a competitive team thus far at 7-8 overall. Freshman Makayla Rutledge has been lights-out for Bobcats scoring 16.7 points a game while accumulating 6.8 rebounds. First-year player Audrey Chow has been solid scoring 10.3 points a game, along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Sophomore Moanike'ala Scott(9.7 ppg/3.8 rpg) and freshman Kalena Akinaka (9 ppg/7.1 rpg) have been strong competitors on the court for the Bobcats.

Orange Empire Conference Opening Matchups begin this week: