Women's basketball team holds on to beat Southwestern

Women's basketball team holds on to beat Southwestern

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team ran its winning streak to three games in a row with a 66-58 win over Southwestern in its opener of the Erin Tomlinson Coast Classic on Wednesday at Orange Coast.

Irvine Valley, which improved its record to 8-4, got big games from several players.

Sophomore guard Kiara King finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Freshman center Breanna Tuner added 15 points and 10 rebounds and freshman forward Alexis Casillas had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The Lasers also got nine points apiece from freshman forward Conerie Brennan and sophomore guard Jasmine Kennon.

Irvine Valley out-rebounded Southwestern, 59-35, in the contest. The Lasers also held Southwestern to just 26 percent shooting in the contest.

The Lasers, who led by 23 points with just under 10 minutes left in the game, withstood a barrage of Jaguar baskets down the stretch to win by eight in the second game of the day.

Irvine Valley moves on to play rival Saddleback in the championship semifinals on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

The other semifinal features Chaffey against Cuesta. Chaffey edged host Orange Coast, 63-62, in an opening-round game.