In leading up to the official start of the 2024-25 athletics campaign at Irvine Valley, which starts on Aug. 23 with the IVC women's soccer team hosting Pasadena City at 3 p.m. and the IVC women's vollyeball team playing at Moorpark at 1:00 pm, Irvine Valley's Athletic Department will count down the top 10 stories from the 2023-24 year.
The No. 8 story on the list for 2023-24 season is Irvine Valley's women's basketball team having another strong season under head coach Jason Garey.
Irvine Valley's women's basketball team shined on and off the court in 2023-24.
As part of the 2023-24 Irvine Valley Annual Athletic Awards, the Laser women's basketball squad was named the scholar team of the year.
Irvine Valley had six players with 4.0 grade point averages, including Aryana Cortes, Emily Freeman, Sarah Bonsangue, Fernanda Oblitas-Lopez, Haruka Mikuma and Moka Saiki.
The team was made up of Bonsangue, EJ Bradley, Cortes, Freeman, Avril Ho, Sariah Loftis, Mikuma, Obitas-Lopez, Daphne Rudis, Saiki, Makena Tomlinson, Ella Will and Christen Ziska.
On the court, IVC ended with a record of 21-8 overall, was second in the Orange Empire Conference at 12-2 and made the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs.
Tomlinson, a sophomore post player was named second team all-state and Tomlinson and Ziska were named first team all-Orange Empire Conference with Freeman and Saiki selected as second team players.
Tomlinson, who is headed to NCAA Division II St. Edwards in Austin, Tex.
She averaged 12.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and shot 51.6 percent from the field on the season.
Freeman signed with NCAA Division II University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Freeman, a star shooting guard, has been a champion on and off the court for Irvine Valley athletics.
She was recently named IVC's Scholar Athlete of the year as well as a Character Champion for the Lasers for the 2023-24 campaign.
Freeman, a guard from San Juan Hills High, averaged 9.1 points per game and led the team with 69 made three-pointers this past season.
