Irvine Valley's women's basketball team played tough down the stretch and held on for a 60-57 win over El Camino in a nonconference game at home on Friday night.
IVC handed El Camino its second straight defeat and improved its own record to 6-2 overall. El Camino's record slipped to 6-2.
The Lasers led, 27-20, at the end of the first half, but El Camino came back to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors went up, 45-43, on two free throws by Nao Shiota with 6:57 left in the game.
But Irvine Valley sophomore guard Elizabeth Garcia knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from freshman guard Lexi Vail with 5:28 left to give the Lasers a 46-45 advantage.
El Camino came back with a layup by Hunter Noa to go up, 47-46, with 4:59 to play,
IVC responded with a three-pointer by sophomore forward Kasey Smit to go ahead, 49-47, with 4:40 remaining.
And then Vail came up with a steal and a layup to give Irvine Valley to give Irvine Valley a 51-47 lead with 4:27 left.
Shiota hit a three-pointer with 3:39 to play to pull El Camino to within 51-50.
But the Lasers never gave up the lead. Sophomore forward Kiara Warren made a basket and later made a free throw to give IVC a four-point cushion.
Garcia later scored inside and made two free throws and Vail made two free throws to seal the game for the Lasers.
Vail finished with 16 points, three rebounds and five assists for Irvine Valley. Smit added 14 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals and Garcia had 11 points, three rebounds and four steals.
Freshman guard Cydnie Danan chipped in six points and five assists for IVC.
El Camino was paced by Shiota with 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Amiete Nyingifa had 11 points and 12 rebounds and Kayla Bibb ended with 10 points and five rebounds for the Warriors.
Irvine Valley plays again next Thursday when it hosts its own tournament. The Lasers open on Thursday with a 6 p.m. game against Southwestern.
