Women’s Basketball Playoffs : Totosz Sparks Golden West Past Cypress

Freshman forward Lori Totosz came off the bench to score 26 points as Golden West College defeated Cypress, 92-81, in a Southern California Regional women’s basketball game Friday at Golden West.

Golden West (31-2), the state’s top-ranked team, advanced to the state tournament at American River College in Sacramento starting March 3.

Last season, Golden West was beaten by American River in the state tournament semifinals.

Totosz was matched by teammate Jeannine Battaglia, a sophomore guard, who also had 26. Battaglia had 18 and Totosz 14 in the second half.

Cypress (24-8), led for most of the first half, but Golden West tied it, 41-41, when Kris Takayama threw in a 55-foot shot from beyond halfcourt as time ran out.

“We wanted to get the ball inside,” Dick Stricklin, Golden West coach said. “We were able to do that but we just didn’t make the shots.”

Cypress took a 49-43 lead on a basket by Vicky Silva with 16:45 left in the game.

Golden West then went on a 23-10 run and led, 68-59, with 9:10 left. Cypress lost any chance to come back by missing nine consecutive free throws, including the front ends of six one-and-ones in the next eight minutes.

The main reason for Golden West’s second-half run was its depth. Cypress used 7 players and Golden West 11. Golden West went to the bench early in the first half resting its starters for long periods. Golden West’s starters then played the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“That was our plan,” Stricklin said. “We wanted to rest as many people as we could so we would be strong in the second half.”

Kathy Werth was the only other Golden West player in double-figures with 18. Silva led Cypress with 24 points. Becky Wayland had 21 and Venetta Dorlis added 18 also for Cypress.