Fullerton Women Beaten by L.A. Trade Tech, 67-63

Fullerton College narrowly missed a trip to the finals of the California Community College Women’s Basketball tournament after dropping a 67-63 semifinal decision to heavily favored Los Angeles Trade Tech at Cerritos College.

The top-rated Techsters (32-1) will meet DeAnza College, the top-seeded team in the north, at 7:30 tonight in the title game at Cerritos. De Anza (27-5) came from behind to defeat Santa Monica, 95-91, in Friday night’s other semifinal.

Coach Colleen Riley’s Hornets (28-6) exhibited poise and discipline in the first half as they continuely broke the Techsters’ full-court press to take a 32-19 lead at the 6:21 mark and hold on for a 40-34 halftime lead.

“She (Riley) came ready to play,” Trade Tech Coach Jim DeSalvo said. “They knew our game well and shut off what we do. We were fortunate to win. Considering the difference in talent, she did a good job.”

Trade Tech managed to capitalize on Hornet scoring leader Diane Rockwood’s fourth foul nine seconds into the second half. Fullerton went cold at the outset of the second half, missing its first 11 shots from the floor before Sandy Cotton’s eight-footer at 14:12 broke the dry spell.

“Diane picking up her third foul with seven minutes left in the first half really hurt us,” Riley said. “We did what we had to do for 20 minutes, but we only had 12 points in the first 15 minutes of the second half.”

No more than a basket separated the two teams through the second half. Shamona Mosley stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a lay-in with 1:29 left in the game, and Trade Tech took a 65-61 lead.

Fullerton’s Cotton narrowed the gap to 65-63 with a basket at 1:01, but Darlene Trenary missed a shot with eight seconds left. Tech point guard Tami Richard sank a one-and-one with three seconds left to ice the game.

Trade Tech, which lost only to Cochise, Ariz., has now won 55 straight games against California schools. Fullerton, which made only 10 of 34 from the floor in the second half, was led by Rockwood’s 21 points. Trenary, Debbie Drlik and Cotton had 10 each. Shanon Weicking had 11 rebounds for the Hornets.

Mosley, a talented 5-foot 11-inch forward from Freemont High School, led all scorers with 28 points. She brought a 27-point average into the game and is high on the recruiting list of USC, Arizona, Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton, according to DeSalvo.

Richard added 21 points and 10 assists for Trade Tech.