Nguyen, Bey Lead Warriors to Tough Win at Cypress

CYPRESS, Calif. – Ashley Nguyen and Salihah Bey led the charge for El Camino College en route to a 64-60 non-conference road win at Cypress Wednesday night at Don Johnson Court.

Bey posted her second double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds while Nguyen added 15 points, six assists and a game-high four steals to lead the Warriors (3-1) past the Chargers (2-3).

For the host Chargers, Janei-Ruby Fuamatu led the way with 18 points, the only Cypress player to post double figures on the night.

The game was close throughout as the teams were tied seven times and traded the lead on nine occasions. No team led by more than four points after any quarter with the Warriors holding the game's largest lead at seven points.

Turnovers proved crucial as the Warriors forced 23 Chargers turnovers and turned them into 22 points while the Chargers forced 20 turnovers but scored only 13 points off Warriors miscues.

Jordan Hixon flirted with a double-double as she scored 11 points and grabbed nine boards to go with two steals and a block. Makenna Peneueta added a game-high seven assists and Erika Carson scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.

The Warriors led by a point at halftime and were able to expand the lead to four after the third quarter. They would expand the lead to six on a Jenna Krynen 3-pointer with 5:45 left in regulation but the Chargers stormed back with a 7-0 run to retake the lead with 3:46 left.

But the Warriors bounced back as Krynen drilled another 3-pointer from the wing to put ECC up 57-55, a lead they would not relinquish.

The Warriors will return to action on Monday night as they head to Fullerton for another road contest against an opponent from the Orange Empire Conference. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.