Chargers Hold on For the Upset
Norris scored a career high 34 points Friday night. |
February 1st, 2008
box score
Santa Ana, Calif. – After three straight near-misses, the Chargrs finally pulled off the upset they have been gunning for. The Chargers went on the road and avenged their earlier loss to Santa Ana with a 68-65 upset win over the 11th ranked Dons. Freshman guard Sequana Norris led the way for Cypress with a career high 34 points. As if the 34 points were not enough, she added eight steals, six assists, and nine rebounds.
Cypress put the Dons on their heels to start the game jumping out to a narrow lead before going on a twelve point tear to take the eleven point lead. The Charger defense held Santa Ana scoreless for a full ten minutes in the first half and held back the Dons holding onto a 33-25 lead at half. Cypress came out strong in the second taking as much as a 13 point lead. The favored Dons would not quit on their home court chipping away at the lead tying it at the 6:27 mark and then taking the lead. The two battled back and forth from there. With the score tied at 64 with two minutes remaining, Norris made a layup to take the lead. Santa Ana converted one of two freethrows next to cut the Cypress lead to one. Cypress held on to the posession after a Santa Ana timeout and were fouled. Freshman point guard Michelle Salemi converted two free-throws to extend the lead to three with 18 seconds remaining. Santa Ana took the ball down court and were able to put up two three-point attempts but were unable to convert on either giving Cypress the three-point upset win.
Sophomore forward Saw-Ann Bryan paced Cypress with a double-double going five-for-seven from the field for 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Cypress improves to 7-16 and 3-5 in conference. The Chargers take the weekend off before preparing for first place Orange Coast Wednesday. The last time the two teams met, Orange Coast won 83-60 despite a competetive first half. The two will face off at Cypress on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.