COD Women’s Basketball grabs OT win over Fighting Cacti, 64-57

COD (4-22; 1-10) snapped a 13-game losing streak and avenged an earlier season loss to their Conference rivals, defeating the Copper Mountain Fighting Cacti of Joshua Tree (3-21; 2-9) in overtime, 64-57.

Desert honored Sophomore Day by celebrating their lone sophomore on this year's squad, guard Marisa Givens (Palm Desert H.S.).

Copper Mountain would jump out to an early 8-1 lead and the Roadrunners would come marching back, going on a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter and tie the game at 14-14 going into the break. Desert would build a lead going into halftime, 28-23. Since they only traveled with only five players, Copper Mountain would be trying to avoid foul trouble most of the game, on player hit four fouls with 4:34 left in the first half, another would get her fourth with 5:39 left in the third quarter and another would get her fourth foul with 4:10 left in the game. The Fighting Cacti would close that halftime gap during the second half, taking a 42-41 lead at the end of three quarters of play.

The fourth quarter was a tough one for both teams as Copper Mountain went through a seven minute scoring drought, from 8:36 in the fourth quarter to 1:36 left and both teams were stuck at 48-45 for almost four minutes in the middle of that drought. With 51 second left in the fourth, the Fighting Cacti were down to only four players as one of their players fouled out. While the Roadrunners held a 52-48 lead, at the time, Copper Mountain found a way to get within three and hit a three-point shot with 11 second left on the clock to send the game into overtime.

In the overtime period, and with only four players on the court for the Fighting Cacti, Desert would jump out with a 7-0 run and that proved to be the difference in the contest.

Freshman starting guard Miranda Kelly (La Quinta H.S) grabbed her first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points on 4 of 10 shooting and snagging 15 total rebounds, 11 of which were defensive boards, also leading the team in steals with six.

Freshman starting guard Geraldine Padua (Indio Shadow Hills) led the Roadrunners with 14 points on 5 of 23 shooting and freshman starting guard Erika Barrera (Thermal Desert Mirage) added 13 points on 5 of 16 shooting, including going 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Freshman starting guard Annabelle Amador (Indio Shadow Hills) would add nine points on 3 of 20 shooting and 13 total boards, nine defensive and Givens would score nine points off of the bench on 3 of 7 shooting and grab nine boards in the win.

Follow COD Athletics on Twitter @COD_Athletics Instagram @COD_Athletics or Facebook @College of the Desert Athletics

For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).