Women's basketball team stays unbeaten in OEC with big win

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

The Irvine Valley women's basketball team, ranked No. 7 in the state, used a strong second half to pull away and beat Cypress, 91-69, on Friday night at home.

The win improved Irvine Valley's record to 15-2 overall and kept the Lasers on top of the Orange Empire Conference at 4-0.

It was the third time this season that the Lasers have scored 90 or more points in a game.

IVC led, 46-37, at the end of the first half, but out-scored Cypress, 45-32, in the second half.

Irvine Valley shot 45.0 percent (36 of 80) from the field.

The Lasers dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Cypress, 54-31. The rebounding helped IVC to 27 second-chance points. IVC also out-scored Cypress, 50-18 on points in the paint.

Irvine Valley had four players score in double figures. Freshman forward Sarah Matossian had another big game for the Lasers. She finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Matossian went 11 of 14 from the field and also sank both of her three-point tries.

Sophomore guard Morgan Higgins added 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals, sophomore guard Jessica Suruor finished with 18 points, making four three-pointers, and added two steals, and sophomore guard Paola Roa ended with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Lasers.

Cypress (11-9, 4-2) was paced by Jaylene Oviedo with 24 points. She scored 15 points in the first quarter and made 7 of 14 three-pointers in the game. Malia Goldsmith added 17 points and four assists for the Chargers.

Irvine Valley is back on the court on Monday, hosting Fullerton in a conference game at 6 p.m.