Irvine Valley's women's basketball team gave its fans a lot to cheer about in the last home game of the 2016-17 season.
The Lasers put on one of their best performances in Orange Empire Conference play in beating Orange Coast, 61-49, at home Friday on Sophomore Night and Pink Night in support of Coaches vs. Cancer.
Before the game coach Julie Hanks honored sophomores Kydell Pearson, Aaleah Brown and Serena Saba.
Brown delivered 12 points and six rebounds, Pearson had nine points and nine rebounds and Saba chipped in nine points and six assists while playing all 40 minutes in the win for IVC (11-16, 3-8)
It was a freshman for the Lasers that helped turn the tide in the second half. Freshman guard Elizabeth Garcia scored seven of her 13 points in the third quarter as Irvine Valley out-scored Orange Coast, 16-9, to take the lead for good.
The game was tied, 28-28, at the half after Orange Coast's Michelle Wu hit a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
Irvine Valley opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to take control.
And IVC scored the final four points of the quarter - on two free throws by Garcia and a layup by freshman forward Taylor Hall - to take a 44-37 lead into the final period.
Orange Coast pulled within 45-40 with nine minutes left in the game on a three-pointer by Wu.
But a jumper by Brown, an offensive rebounds and put back by Hall and a layup by freshman forward Kiara Warren gave IVC a 51-40 lead with 6:12 remaining.
The Pirates didn't get closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Hall ended up contributing eight points and eight rebounds and Warren had six points and three rebounds for IVC. Irvine Valley out-rebounded Orange Coast, 41-27, in the contest.
Chyann Pendergrass had 13 points and four steals for Orange Coast (17-12, 5-6). Wu finished with 10 points and Megan McCullough had nine points and five rebounds for the Pirates.
Irvine Valley plays again next Thursday in a conference game at Riverside at 7 p.m.
