Gauchos rangle their way back into conference title contention
The Saddleback women’s basketball team was just two points away from scoring in triple digits last Wednesday when they beat the Riverside Tigers, 98-81, at Saddleback College.
With a conference title and a playoff birth on the line, Saddleback couldn’t lose to the Tigers again. By halftime, the Gauchos were sitting on a 53-35 lead.
But Riverside pulled to within three points with just 5:13 remaining in the game. With players in foul trouble, the Gauchos counted on their sophomores, Cassie Klockgether and Rekeisha Jones. Klockgether and Jones capped off a 10-2 run with key free throws to give the Gauchos an 85-74 lead.
Klockgether finished with 37 points, eight rebounds, and six assists to lead her team, which is still in contention for the Orange Empire Conference title behind Orange Coast College (25-3 9-1) with just five games to go. Klockgether also was 16-of-16 from the free throw line, a school record for number of free throws made in a game.
Saddleback also defeated the Santa Ana Dons last Friday, 75-67. Klockgether led the team in scoring again with 25 points. With the two victories, Saddleback is now 20-6 overall and 7-3 in conference play with four games remaining.