OCC women’s basketball opens playoffs at home

The Orange Coast College women’s basketball team will play host to Los Angeles Valley College in the opening round of the Southern California Regional playoffs on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The No. 16-seeded Pirates (15-13) and the No. 17-seeded Monarchs (14-13) have split two games this year. L.A Valley won, 58-53, at OCC on Nov. 20 and OCC posted a 69-67 win at the Ventura Tournament on Dec. 28.

Wednesday’s winner will visit No. 1-seeded Mt. San Antonio College (29-1) either Friday or Saturday night.

The status of OCC freshman forward Jenna Rodriguez is uncertain. Rodriguez, who leads the team at 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, missed the final three games of the regular season with an ankle injury.

Sophomore Sami Little and freshman Chyann Pendergrass are additional standouts for Coach Mike Thornton’s Pirates.

The Monarchs are led by the one-two punch of freshman Diamond O’Connor (16.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game) and sophomore Adaora Obi (16.1 ppg and 9.8 rpg).

— From staff reports