WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT : Kravick Leads Golden West Into Semifinal

Michelle Kravick scored a season-high 30 points to help Golden West to a 90-79 victory over Merritt in the first round of the community college women’s basketball State tournament at Solano College in Suisun City.

Kravick, a sophomore forward from Fountain Valley High, made 13 of 22 shots from the field. She also had nine rebounds.

Golden West (32-4), making its eighth consecutive appearance in the State tournament, advances into a semifinal against Butte at 6 tonight. Los Angeles Harbor takes on Orange Coast at 8 in the other semifinal.

Julie Murdent, a freshman forward, added 25 for Golden West. Kristin Brun, a sophomore guard, had 11 points and a team-high 14 rebounds.

Golden West used its up-tempo offense and full-court defense to pull away in the second half. The Rustlers led, 49-46, at the break and outscored Merritt, 41-33, in the second half.

Michelle Baker had 26 and Jurate Zukavskaite had 19 for Merritt (29-5).

“I thought they started to get tired in the first half,” Golden West Coach Dick Stricklin said. “But then again, we started to get tired as well. Some of the kids aren’t used to playing that much.”