Women's basketball team pulls out a win in wild game at home

Courtesy of On My Game Photography
Courtesy of On My Game Photography

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team won its second straight game to start the 2016-17 season Thursday night.

But it wasn't easy.

The Lasers squandered a 19-point lead before getting a big shot from freshman guard Elizabeth Garcia and then holding on for a 60-59 victory.

Irvine Valley got an impressive night from sophomore guard Aaleah Brown, who scored a career-high 21 points. She added four rebounds, three assists and five steals in the contest.

Garcia was the other Laser in double figures with 10 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Freshman guard Mary Dishoian added nine points, freshman forward Kiara Warren chipped in eight points and six rebounds for the Lasers.

Freshman forward Taylor Hall came off the bench and made an impact with six points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.

And freshman guard Serena Saba had six points, four assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Irvine Valley shot 40 percent (24 of 60) from the field in the game and had 20 assists on their 24 made baskets.

IVC did struggle from the free throw line for the second game in a row, making just 9 of 18 attempts.

And the Lasers were out-rebounded, 62-45. San Diego City grabbed a whopping 34 offensive rebounds.

But Irvine Valley played solid enough defense, helping limit San Diego City to just 22.4 percent (19 of 85) shooting from the field for the game.

Irvine Valley was behind, 16-11, after the first quarter, but turned things around in the second quarter.

The Lasers out-scored the Knights, 29-8, in the quarter to take a 40-24 lead into halftime.

Irvine Valley extend its lead even more early in the third quarter. A layup by Brown pushed IVC's advantage to 48-29 with 6:38 left in the quarter.

The Lasers struggled to make baskets after that for a while, however.

They were out-scored, 7-4, the rest of the quarter.

IVC was ahead, 52-36, going into the final period.

San Diego City went on a 16-3 run to open the fourth quarter. The Knights pulled within 55-53 on a three-pointer by Mikaelah Wieland with 4:21 left.

Warren answered with a basket to put Irvine Valley in front, 57-53.

But a basket by Samera Henry and then a free throw by Andreya Wright brought San Diego City within 57-56 with 2:34 left.

San Diego City took its first lead since the second quarter at 58-57 after an offensive rebound and then putback by Henry with 1:28 to play.

Both teams missed shots on their next times down the floor.

That is when Garcia came up big. She nailed a three-pointer from the right corner off a pass from Warren with 32.6 seconds left to give Irvine Valley a 60-58 lead.

San Diego City's Wright was fouled with 24 seconds to go and she made one of two free throws to get her team within a point.

But with the shot clock turned off and Irvine Valley playing keep away, San Diego City couldn't get a steal or foul an IVC player and time ran out.

Irvine Valley plays again next week in the Saddleback Tournament. The event starts next Thursday.