THE COLLEGES : Community College Women’s Basketball : Johnson Leads Fullerton Past Contra Costa, 87-70

Forward Kelli Johnson scored 22 points to lead the Fullerton College women’s basketball team to an 87-70 victory over Contra Costa in a California community college championship quarterfinal game Thursday night at Los Angeles Valley College.

Fullerton (27-1) plays Los Angeles Valley, an 84-68 winner over San Mateo, in the semifinals tonight at 8. College of the Sequoias, an 80-61 winner over Golden West (14-17) earlier Thursday, plays American River in the other semifinal at 6 p.m.

The Hornets, who have won 18 games in a row, jumped ahead, 34-26, at halftime after making 14 of 32 first-half field goals.

Johnson scored 14 points in the second half and teammate Heidi Shikuma, who came off the bench, scored 16 of her 17 points in the second half.

Fullerton led, 42-40, with 14 minutes left but went on a 9-2 run and led, 51-42, with 11:30 left.

Fullerton Coach Colleen Riley, in her 20th season with the Hornets, said her team will have to play better to defeat Los Angeles Valley.

“We have to play very good defense because they shoot well from the outside,” Riley said. “When you get to the semifinals, you cannot expect to play an average game and win.”

Steffi Strauss added 17 points for Fullerton and Lisa Crosskey had 13 points for the Hornets, who converted 34 of 65 field-goal attempts.

In another quarterfinal:

Sequoias 80, Golden West 61--Sequoias, the top-seeded team from the north, led, 34-31, at halftime before going on a 8-2 run at the start of the second half. Golden West closed to within seven points on sophomore guard Kim Wilson’s two free throws with 3:56 left to play.

Sequoias outscored Golden West, 17-5, down the stretch to oust the Rustlers from the eight-team tournament.