Written by Laura M. Tapia

The Riverside City College women’s basketball team clinched a playoff berth, after putting up a third place Orange Empire Conference finish for its second consecutive year.

Although RCC finished 7-5 in OEC standings, they have improved from last season when they posted a 6-6 finish, a season in which they advanced to the second round of the Southern Regional playoffs.

The Tigers who are seeded No. 13 will face No.4 seed Long Beach City College in the Southern Regional playoffs on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Vikings home court.

LBCC finished with a 7-1 record and won the South Division championship. The Vikings will be ready to compete as they are coming off a loss in which Cerritos ended their eight game winning streak on Feb. 19.

The Tigers, who have shown they can be fierce in a close game, are led by sophomore Jordan Lofton and freshman DoyleBonet Walker, both were awarded First Team All-OEC honors and have an average of at least 13.2 points per game.

Complementing the two guards is center Paradise Hanchett, who leads the team in rebounds with 12.6 a game average, is third in state in total rebounds with 354 and received Second Team All-OEC honors.

The winner of the matchup will face the winner of the Feb. 26 game between No. 5 Irvine Valley College and No. 12 Cerritos on Mar. 2, at the home of the higher seed, according to the RCC athletics website.