Women's basketball team sees conference win streak end

Courtesy of Toni Lavacot
Courtesy of Toni Lavacot

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team had its 15-game Orange Empire Conference winning streak snapped Friday night at Cypress.

The Chargers pulled away in the second half and defeated the Lasers, 78-62.

The two teams were ranked in the top 15 in the state with Irvine Valley coming in at 12th in the state and sixth in Southern California and Cypress at 15th in the state and seventh in So. Cal.

Irvine Valley, the defending conference champion, saw its record slip to 13-5 overall and 1-1 in conference. Cypress improved to 14-5 overall and 1-1 in conference.

Sophomore forward Morgan Bryant led Irvine Valley with 19 points and seven rebounds. She made 9 of 11 shots from the field.

Sophomore guard Jordan Coleman added 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals and sophomore guard Tara Casey had 10 points and six rebounds for the Lasers.

IVC shot 53.3 percent (24 of 45) from the field and out-rebounded Cypress, 38-27, in the contest.

But turnovers cost Irvine Valley. The Lasers turned the ball over 28 times to just 10 turnovers for Cypress.

Cypress scored 26 points off IVC turnovers.

Irvine Valley led, 18-15, after the first quarter and was down just, 34-33, at the half. But Cypress out-scored IVC, 44-29, in the second half.

A 13-0 run in the third quarter was the key for Cypress.

Dominique Culho and Alyssa Movchan each netted 16 points to lead the Chargers.

Irvine Valley plays at Orange Coast next Wednesday at 7 p.m.