Cypress, CA – The Cypress College women's basketball team (17-5, 4-1 OEC) defeated the Santa Ana Dons (13-8, 2-3 OEC) 81-75 at home on Friday night.

Alyssa Movchan, Erika Nilsen, Monique Mesa, and Sylvia Garcia each finished with 16 points for the Chargers. Movchan added a team-high eight rebounds and four assists. Taylor Ivicevic poured in a game-high 20 points to go along with four assists and two blocks for Santa Ana. Blaysen Varnadoe finished with a double-double, 11 points and 19 rebounds, for the Dons.

Both teams traded baskets in the first half. The Chargers managed to go into halftime with a 40-37 lead, despite shooting only 33-percent from the field. The Dons shot 43-percent in the first half but struggled handling the Chargers full court pressure. Cypress forced Santa Ana into 12 first half turnovers enabling them to control the pace of the game.

Cypress came out hot in the third quarter, outscoring the Dons 28-18, led by 13 points in the quarter from Erika Nilsen. The Chargers extended their lead to 15 early in the fourth before the Dons went on an 11-0 run. Ivicevic knocked down an open three-pointer, making it a two-point game with 3:36 remaining.  Movchan answered with a three of her own to give Cypress a 77-72 lead and the Chargers did not look back.

The Cypress College women's basketball team will visit Fullerton on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:00 pm and return home to face Orange Coast College on Friday, January 29 at 5:00 pm.

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