East L.A. stuns defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, 69-68

CCCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Scoreboard l Standings

WALNUT, Calif. - The East Los Angeles College women's basketball team stunned defending state champion Mt. San Antonio College, 69-68, with a buzzer beating shot in a South Coast Conference North women's basketball game on Friday.

The No.11 Huskies (CCCWBCA State Poll) scored a put-back from sophomore forward Monica Garcia (Garfield High School) with just 0.4 left on the clock.

The fourth quarter had eight lead changes and four ties. Mt. SAC rallied from a 14-point second quarter deficit and took a 58-57 lead with 4:22 remaining in the game after a 3-point jump shot from Mountie sophomore guard Deja Siaki. It was the fourth of five 3-point jump shots in the quarter for Mt. SAC, which controlled the game down the stretch.

Mt. SAC sophomore guard Dominique McLaughlin (Etiwanda HS) made a layup with eight seconds left in the game and the Mounties led, 68-67. An ELAC shot attempt with two seconds left hit iron but Garcia's inside move and put back for ELAC squashed the Mountie comeback and gave the Huskies the win. Garcia is the only returnee from last year's 28-3 ELAC team.

"It was a great win for the Huskies," said ELAC Coach Bruce Turner. "We are still learning how to win in tough circumstances and tonight was a good example of how to do that. Mt. SAC is a good team. They will be in the mix when they get healthy."

Mt. SAC played without its leading scorer sophomore forward Jonnae Vermillion (Corona Santiago HS).

The first quarter had eight lead changes and four ties and ended with ELAC on top 19-15. The Lady Huskies outscored Mt. SAC 15-7 in the second quarter and led after the third 50-41. ELAC shot 50 percent (6-of-12) in the second quarter to Mt. SAC's 6.3 % (1-of-16).

Four women scored in double digits, two from each team. For ELAC it was Garcia and freshman forward Dominique Godbolt (Fairfax HS) who each had double doubles. Garcia scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds while Godbolt scored 23 points and finished with 13 rebounds.

Mt. SAC was led by McLaughlin who scored a season-high 30 points. Siaki scored 18 points for the Mounties and teammate freshman forward Neivi Langi (Upland HS) had a team-high 13 rebounds.

ELAC (14-6, 2-0) was outrebounded 45-39, but shot 42 points in the paint to 30 for Mt. SAC. The Mounties (17-5, 1-1) outscored ELAC 8-4 off fast break points. The Lady Huskies had more fast break opportunities, but just didn't connect on most of them.

In other SCC North Action, No. 12 LA Trade Tech (15-5, 2-0) won 88-77 over Pasadena City College (12-10, 0-2) and Chaffey College (12-8, 1-1) defeated Rio Hondo College (4-16, 0-2) 59-25.

SCC North play continues on Wednesday, Jan. 24 with ELAC hosting Rio Hondo, Mt. SAC playing at Pasadena and Chaffey traveling to Trade Tech. All games begin at 5 p.m.

(Courtesy Tadzio Garcia, East Los Angeles Sports Information Desk)