Women's basketball team continues streak in conference play

Courtesy of Toni Lavacot
Courtesy of Toni Lavacot

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team won another game and moved a spot up in the Orange Empire Conference standings thanks to some help.
The Lasers, ranked ninth in the state, defeated Santa Ana, 79-63, on Wednesday night at home behind strong performances from sophomore guard Tara Casey and sophomore forward De'Jerre Scurry.

Casey finished with a game-high 16 points and added four rebounds and four assists. She made 6 of 12 shots from the floor, including 4 of 8 from three-point range.

Scurry came off the bench with one of her best performances of the season. She ended with 14 points and nine rebounds. Scurry was also 6 of 12 from the floor and went 2 of 3 from the three-point line.

The win, which was the team's third straight, improved Irvine Valley's record to 16-6 overall and 4-2 in conference. With Saddleback upsetting Orange Coast on Wednesday, IVC moved into a tie for second place in the standings with OCC.

Both the Lasers and Pirates trail first-place Cypress by a game.

Irvine Valley led, 21-13, after the first quarter and, 41-28, at the half against Santa Ana.

The Lasers built their lead up to 20 points with a strong start to the third quarter.

After Taylor Ivicevic made a three-pointer to pull Santa Ana within 41-31 early in the quarter, IVC scored the next 10 points.

Casey knocked down back-to-back three-pointers and then sophomore forward Morgan Bryant made consecutive baskets to put IVC ahead, 51-31 with 6:42 left in the third quarter.

Irvine Valley led, 59-44, after the third quarter and was up by 20 points again at 68-48 after freshman forward Kydell Pearson made a three-pointer and then sophomore guard Jordan Coleman made a jumper with 7:38 left in the game.

Santa Ana didn't get any closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Two other players scored in double figures for Irvine Valley. Pearson and freshman forward Kasey Smit each contributed 12 points. Pearson also had five rebounds.

IVC shot 50.0 percent (31 of 62) from the field as a team in the game and made 10 of 21 three-pointers. The Lasers also shared the ball nicely with 24 assists on their 31 baskets.

Santa Ana, which shot 38.3 percent (23 of 60) was led by Ivicevic with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Blaysen Varnadoe added 12 points and eight rebounds, Amanda Sanchez had 11 points and Rachel Cain ended with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists.

Santa Ana saw its record fall to 13-9 overall and 2-4 in conference.

Irvine Valley will start the second round of conference play on Friday with a 5 p.m. game at Fullerton.