SANTA ANA- The Dons opened the Santa Ana College Tournament with a 83-82 loss against Merced College.

Santa Ana College (5-3) will take on San Bernardino Valley College (0-6) at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 after the Wolverines fell to Bakersfield College 75-60. Merced College (5-5) will advance to the winner's bracket and take on Bakersfield College (2-5) at 8 p.m.

The first half remained close as the Dons were playing catch-up in the first quarter. The Dons got their speed back in the second quarter and sophomore Blaysen Varnadoe led the Dons with eleven out of thirty-eight points in the first half. Sophomore Lauren Fruto was right behind Blaysen Varnadoe with 9 points and with 2 steals and 2 assists, sophomore Jen Ventura helped keep the Dons in the lead and ended the half at 38-30.

The Dons kept the lead in the third quarter with Varnadoe scoring eleven more points. Lauren Fruto and Jen Ventura both made a three-point jump shot against Merced. During the fourth quarter, Merced outscored the Dons by 9 points and scored the last shot with ten seconds left to defeat the Dons 83-82.

The tournament opened with Moorpark College defeating Cosumnes River College 62-59 and then San Diego Mesa fell to West Hills College 54-46.