By John M. Sherrard
(Lancaster, CA) With the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball team holding a slim one-point lead, sophomore guard Amari Terry sank two free throws in the last 30 seconds to lead the Mounties to their third tournament championship game this season.
The Mounties survived a late fourth quarter comeback and held on to defeat Cypress College, 67-64, in the semifinals of the Annual Antelope Valley College Holiday Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Mt. SAC will play Sequoias College (13-2), a 74-35 winner over host AVC in the other semi, for the third year in a row in the championship game at 3:00 pm. The Mounties (12-1) will be aiming for their third consecutive AVC tourney title.
The Mounties, who have now won seven in a row, led Cypress by nine points going into the half, 33-24.
However, the offense kicked it into high gear in the third quarter with 23 points while holding Cypress to 16.
Mt. SAC scored 41 points in the second and third quarters, behind ten points each in that two-quarter stretch by Maddeline Dopplick and Allyah George. Dopplick sank three of her five 3-pointers in the quarter, the first two coming in the first 90 seconds to give the Mounties a 41-24 lead.
Entering the fourth quarter Mt. SAC had a comfortable, 16-point lead, 56-40, but saw Cypress outscore the Mounties, 22-7, to trail by one point, 63-62, with 1:18 remaining.
However, a layup by McLaughlin (65-62), followed by a Cypress score (65-64) and the two clutch free throws by Terry gave the Mounties the win.
Mt. SAC, which had four of its five starters score in double figures, was led by Dopplick with 18 points.
Scoring in double figures for Mt. SAC was Dominique McLaughlin (6-7 FG) with 13 points, Caira Benton (5-10 FG, 11 RB) with 12 and George (4-5 FT, 7 RB) 10 points.
Mt. SAC will play in its fifth tournament of the year following Christmas, with a first-round game against San Diego Mesa College on Tuesday December 27 in the Fullerton College, eight-team tournament.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.