Community college women’s basketball: Hatsushi hot in win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - With each victory, the Orange Coast College women’s

basketball sends a message to the Orange Empire Conference. Another

display of the Pirates’ statement came on Wednesday when they cruised

past visiting Cypress, 53-45, ignited by OCC freshman Nancy Hatsushi’s

game-high 20 points, which included six three-pointers.

“We think we can beat anybody,” OCC Coach Mike Thornton said before

revealing the Pirates’ message and goal. “We set a goal to go undefeated

in the second round of conference. We’re 4-0 (with three games

remaining).”

OCC (20-8, 7-4 in conference) solidified third place in the OEC, but

more importantly, the Pirates played their brand of basketball: sound

defense supported by a solid shooting performance, Hatsushi’s in

particular.

The 5-foot-5 point guard knocked down her first three three-point shot

attempts and finished 6 for 9 from beyond the arc. She dished out six

assists and carried the Pirates in the first half, scoring 13 to lead the

Pirates to a 23-21 halftime lead.

“Nancy came out like a champ,” said sophomore teammate Kyra Melville,

who also had a message for the OEC. “Any team that beats us the first

time (Irvine Valley, Riverside, Fullerton and Santa Ana), they get

punished. I don’t want to just beat you, I want to punish you. That’s

what I tell the team before the game, ‘It’s time to punish.’ ”

Melville, who scored nine points, expects the Pirates to punish

Fullerton Friday at OCC at 5:30 p.m. She battled through foul trouble

against the Chargers (14-13, 6-3), picking up her fourth foul with 16:22

left. She returned with six minutes left and scored four quick points in

the paint to produce a 42-36 lead.

Before her entrance, the Pirates reeled off an 18-4 run after

trailing, 32-27, with 12:08 left. OCC freshman forward Jesiree Dizon came

off the bench to spark the spurt, grabbing four rebounds and scoring two

points.

With 1:24 remaining, Melville drove the lane and kicked the ball back

out to Hatsushi for a wide-open trey, which she nailed to put the game on

ice, 52-41.

“That was a gut win,” Thornton said. “We obviously weren’t playing

that well. I was truly afraid of this game.”