Women's basketball team hosts Santa Ana to start OEC play

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

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team opens Orange Empire Conference play Wednesday night at home against Santa Ana at 5 p.m.

The Lasers come into conference action after posting a 8-8 record overall so far.

Irvine Valley last played in the Ventura Tournament last week.

IVC won one of three games.

The Lasers defeated Antelope Valley, 55-45, in the opening game on Dec. 28 before falling to host Ventura, 66-58, and then Orange Coast, 76-65, in the third place game.

In the loss to Ventura, which is ranked 12th in the state, sophomore forward Kydell Pearson had 20 points and seven rebounds. Freshman point guard Elizabeth Garcia added 10 points and four assists.

On the season, Pearson is averaging 13.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Aaleah Brown averages 11.0 points and freshman forward Kiara Warren is averaging 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Santa Ana has a record of 10-6 overall and is ranked No. 15 in the South Region Poll .

The Dons won two of three games in the Grossmont Tournament last week. They fell to LA Trade-Tech, 82-53, in the final of the tourney on Dec. 30.

Santa Ana defeated host Grossmont, 85-73, in overtime to move into the finals. In that game, Angela Rodriguez had 22 points, six rebounds and four steals off the bench and Taylor Ivicevic ended with 18 points and eight rebounds for Santa Ana.

Blaysen Varnadoe finished with 18 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Trade Tech.

On the year, Varnadoe is averaging 18.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, Ivicevic is averaging 11.6 points and 5.1 rebounds, Ventura averages 10.3 points and 1.8 steals and Lauren Fruto averages 8.8 points per game. Varnadoe was the conference player of the year as a freshman last season.

After Wednesday night's action, Irvine Valley will play at Saddleback on Friday at 5 p.m.