Women's basketball hosts Cypress in battle for OEC title Friday

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

The Irvine Valley women's basketball team takes on Cypress in a battle for first place in the Orange Empire Conference on Friday night at IVC at 5 p.m.

The Lasers can claim at least a share of the title with a win on Friday.

They have a record of 22-3 overall and are 11-0 in the Orange Empire Conference.

Cypress is 18-7 overall and 10-1 in the conference.

Irvine Valley defeated Cypress, 75-68, in a tight game the first time the two teams met on Jan. 17.

IVC is ranked No. 7 in the state in the CCCSIA poll and third in So. Cal. in the CCCWBCA poll. Cypress is ranked No. 19 in the state.

Irvine Valley picked up its 13th straight win of the season on Wednesday with a 85-55 victory at Santa Ana.

Irvine Valley was ready from the start, going up, 23-11, after the first quarter.

IVC then out-scored Santa Ana, 14-4, in the second quarter to put the game away and take a 37-15 lead into the break.

On the night, sophomore forward Kasey Smit led the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Sophomore guard Elizabeth Garcia added 19 points, six assists and four steals. Garcia made 7 of 10 shots from the floor, including 4 of 6 from three-point range.

Freshman guard Cydnie Danan chipped in 15 points, five rebounds and six assists. She was 5 of 9 from three-point land.

Sophomore guard Kiara Warren had 11 points and nine rebounds and freshman guard Lexi Vail finished with eight assists for the Lasers.

IVC finished with 27 assists as a team on its 30 made baskets.

On the season, Smit averages 17.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. Warren averages 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, Vail averages 9.9 points and 4.4 assists, Garcia is averaging 10.0 points and 3.5 assists and Danan averages 9.5 points and 3.6 assists for Irvine Valley.

Cypress has won six games in a row.

Cypress defeated Fullerton, 74-51, at home on Wednesday to stay one game back of Irvine Valley in the standings. 

Vivian Lara carried the Chargers, pouring in 31 points for her third game with 30-plus points this season.

Hannah Avila-McArthur added 11 points and 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the year.

Nicole Miller chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.

On the season, Lara is averaging 16.8 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Gabrielle Carbajal averages 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, Avila-McArthur averages 9.4 points and 11.0 rebounds and Miller is averaging 8.2 and 6.2 rebounds points per game.