Women's basketball team honors sophomores Thursday night

Women's basketball team honors sophomores Thursday night

Irvine Valley's women's basketball team hosts Saddleback in an Orange Empire Conference game on Thursday night at 5 p.m.

The Lasers will honor their four sophomore players before the contest. 

Those players are guard Avil Ho, guard Haruka Mikuma, guard Sariah Loftis and guard Moka Saiki.

Irvine Valley had a bye this past Tuesday, but picked up a 67-40 conference win at Riverside last Friday night.

The Lasers improved their record to 13-12 overall and 5-4 in the OEC.

The Lasers currently sit in fourth place in the standings.

It was the fifth time this season that IVC has held an opponent to 40 points or less.

Irvine Valley led, 18-6, after the first quarter and, 30-16, at the half.

Irvine Valley was led by Saiki, freshman guard Samantha Barnett and freshman forward Alexis Price.

Saiki finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Barnett added 16 points, four rebounds and six blocks.

And Price contributed 10 points, 17 rebounds and five assists.

Mikuma also had nine points and five rebounds for the Lasers.

On the year, Saiki is averaging 12.9 points and 2.8 assists per game, Barnett averages 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds, Price is averaging 9.2 points and 7.0 rebounds, freshman forward Neryah Lokeni averages 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds and Mikuma is averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 assists per game. 

Saddleback has a record of 7-18 overall and is 0-9 in the conference,

Saddleback fell to No. 3 in the state Orange Coast, 99-52, on Tuesday night at home.

Moanike'ala Scott finished with 24 points and Kalena Akinaka had 13 points and five rebounds for the Bobcats in the contest. Audrew Chow added six points and six assists.

On the season, Makayla Rutledge averages 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, Scott is averaging 9.8 points, Akinaka averages 9.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals and Chow is averaging 8.9 points and 2.9 rebounds for the Bobcats.

Saddleback is under the direction of first-year head coach Jordan Hamamoto. Hamamoto was a former player for the Irvine Valley men's team.

Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday at Fullerton in a conference game at 5 p.m. before closing out the regular season against Orange Coast on Feb. 21 at home at 6 p.m.