Irvine Valley's women's basketball team stopped a three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 75-68 Orange Empire Conference win at Santa Ana on Friday.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 12-8 overall and 1-3 in conference, while Santa An...a slipped to 11-8 overall and 1-2 in conference.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Kennon led Irvine Valley with 14 points. She added six rebounds. Freshman forward Conerie Brennan had 12 points, freshman guard Jay Sneeden came off the bench with 11 points and freshman center Breanna Turner had nine points and nine rebounds for the Lasers.
Santa Ana made two more field goals and five more three-pointers overall that Irvine Valley, but the difference in the game came from the free throw line.
There were 62 combined fouls called in the game and the Lasers made 47 trips to the free throw line where they accounted for 36 of their points.
Irvine Valley did out-rebound Santa Ana, 50-38.
Irvine Valley trailed Santa Ana, 26-25 after two Ashley Whisler free throws with 5:25 left in the opening half, but Irvine Valley out-scored Santa Ana, 10-3, to end the half.
Irvine Valley got the final four points of the half from Sneeden. She made a jumper and then connected on two free throws.
The Lasers also scored the first four points of the second half, getting two free throws from freshman guard Kendall Peterson and a layup by Kennon to take a 39-29 lead with 19:06 to play.
Irvine Valley took its largest lead of the game at 52-37 after a three-pointer by Kennon with 11:22 left.
Santa Ana pulled within six points at 63-57 with 2:05 remaining on a three-pointer by Whisler.
But Irvine Valley made 12 of 14 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the victory.
Whisler led the way for the Dons in the loss with 21 points.
Irvine Valley plays again Wednesday, hosting Fullerton at 7:30 p.m.
