The Irvine Valley women's basketball team is the new No. 1 ranked team in Southern California in the latest California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll.
The Lasers knocked off previous No. 1 in So. Cal. Palomar, 65-45, Saturday night at home.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 11-2 overall on the year.
The Lasers also held Palomar to its lowest shooting percentage from the field in a game this year (31.7 percent) and turned the Comets over 26 times, which led to 22 Irvine Valley points.
IVC led, 15-12, at the end of the first quarter, and out-scored Palomar, 16-13, in the second period to take a 31-25 advantage into the break.
Irvine Valley never trailed after the first quarter and was up by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Four Laser players scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Morgan Higgins, who finished with 24 points and five assists.
Freshman forward Sarah Matossian, and sophomore guards Paola Roa and Jessica Suruor each had 11 points.
Matossian also contributed eight rebounds and six steals and Roa had a team-high seven steals for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley's Orange Empire Conference game at Golden West is postponed for Wednesday due to health and safety protocols.
The Lasers will play Riverside on Friday in a moved up game at 7 p.m. IVC was scheduled to play Fullerton on Friday, but that game was postponed due to health and safety protocols.
Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed at Friday's game against Riverside per district protocols.
