COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Skehan Provides Saddleback With Final Margin of Safety

COSTA MESA — Maureen Skehan’s free throw with a second left helped Saddleback defeat Los Angeles Trade Tech, 48-47, Friday in the first round of the Orange Coast Christmas Classic.

Skehan’s free throw gave Saddleback a four-point lead and the Gauchos didn’t contest Julia Sanchez’s shot as time ran out.

Skehan finished with nine points. Shannon Nelson scored a game-high 20 points and had 12 rebounds for Saddleback (5-2), which plays Chaffey in one semifinal at 5:30 p.m.

In other tournament games:

Chaffey 75, Fullerton 58--Nicole deBruijn scored 18 points for Fullerton despite making only four of 16 shots from the field. Three of the baskets were three-pointers and she made seven of nine free throws. Fullerton plays Los Angeles Trade Tech in a consolation game at 1:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Valley 81, Orange Coast 67--America Robledo scored 19 points, but Orange Coast was too far behind at the half to rally. Los Angeles Valley (8-3) opened a 39-22 lead at the break.

Los Angeles Valley scored the first six points of the second half to open a 45-22 lead. Orange Coast got within 10 with about nine minutes left but got no closer.

Jamie Shine had 12 points for Orange Coast (11-3), which plays El Camino at 3:30 p.m. in a consolation game.

Los Angeles Valley plays Southwestern at 7:30 p.m. in a semifinal.