Irvine Valley's women's basketball team started Orange Empire Conference with a solid 60-54 win over Santa Ana on Wednesday night at home.
But the Lasers had a tough time at Saddleback on Friday, falling, 62-48.
IVC's record slipped to 9-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Saddleback improved to 15-5 overall and 2-0 in conference. Saddleback has won nine of its last 11 games.
Saddleback and Irvine Valley were close through the opening quarter with the Gauchos holding a 13-11 advantage after 10 minutes.
But Saddleback out-scored the Lasers by 10 points in the second quarter and 11 points in the third quarter.
The Gauchos led by 23 points in the fourth period, but IVC cut the lead down to 13 (58-45) after freshman forward Taylor Hall made a jumper and then a free throw and freshman guard Mary Dishoian made a layup with 3:35 to play.
But Janae Omusi made back-to-back baskets for the Gauchos to put the game away.
Omusi finished with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds.
Irvine Valley shot just 38.8 percent from the field as a team and committed 24 turnovers.
Sophomore forward Kydell Pearson ended up with 22 points and five rebounds for IVC. Freshman guard Serena Saba added eight points, four rebounds and seven assists and Hall had five points and nine rebounds.
On the season, Pearson is averaging 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for IVC.
Irvine Valley hosts Fullerton next Wednesday in a conference game at 5 p.m.
