Women's basketball team crushes Orange Coast on Pink Night

Courtesy of Toni Lavacot
Courtesy of Toni Lavacot

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team scored had little problem beating Orange Coast, 72-33, in an Orange Empire Conference game at home on Friday night.

The 39-point victory tied for the most lopsided win so far this season for the Lasers.

Irvine Valley defeated San Diego Mesa, 75-36, in its second game of the year.

The win was also Irvine Valley's 20th of the season. The team, which stayed atop the conference standings, improved its record to 20-3 overall and 7-0 in conference.

Friday's win came in Irvine Valley's annual pink game.

The game was dedicated to the recent passing of one of beloved IVC dance faculty member Marie de la Palme to cancer.

All proceeds from the women's contest will go to the Marie de la Palme Memorial Scholarship of the Irvine Valley College Foundation.

Irvine Valley, which is ranked No. 7 in the state and fourth in Southern California, got contributions all around in the win.

Eleven players scored for the Lasers and 34 of the team's points came from off the bench.

IVC was led by sophomore center Breanna Turner with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Freshman guard Erika Mercado had nine points, sophomore forward Conerie Brennan, sophomore guard Karli Kato and freshman forward Morgan Bryant each added eight points.

Kato also had five assists and Bryant chipped in seven rebounds.

Freshman guard Tara Casey and sophomore guard Erika Pagkalinawan each contributed six points with Pagkalinawan racking up a team-high seven assists.

Irvine Valley had 24 assists on its 28 made baskets on the night. The Lasers also committed just nine turnovers in the game.

The Lasers out-rebounded Orange Coast, 46-35, and won the points in the paint, 30-8.

Orange Coast, which saw its record fall to 3-18 overall and 0-7 in conference, was paced by Jasmine Matar with nine points. Danielle Obong had eight points and Nicole Beaudoin added six points.

OCC shot just 23.5 percent (12 of 51) from the field in the game.

Irvine Valley has a bye in its schedule next Wednesday, but hosts Saddleback next Friday at 7 p.m.