After winning its first two games at the Buddy's All-Star Classic at Los Angeles Valley, the Irvine Valley women's basketball team will play for the tournament title on Saturday night.
The Lasers, ranked No. 7 in the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll for the SoCal region, will face No. 3 Mt. San Antonio at 6 p.m.
Irvine Valley has won six games in a row and Mt. SAC has captured three straight. Mt. SAC (10-3) defeated Ventura, 77-53, on Friday to advance to Saturday's championship game.
The Lasers improved their record to 9-1 with wins over ranked teams in their first two games of the tourney.
IVC defeated No. 10 LA Trade-Tech, 75-52, on Thursday and then played a strong fourth quarter to beat host and 12th-ranked LA Valley on Friday.
In the win over Trade-Tech, sophomore guard Jessica Suruor led the way with 21 points and five rebounds for the Lasers. Freshman guard Kaila Truby added 11 points, sophomore point guard Morgan Higgins had 10 points, five assists and five steals and freshman forward Paea Tafea contributed 15 rebounds.
Higgins scored 28 points and added 12 rebounds and four steals in the Lasers' 64-45 victory over LA Valley on Friday.
IVC out-scored the Monarchs, 22-8, in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Freshman guard Rachel Gafford came off the bench and chipped in 15 points, making 3 of 4 three-pointers for Irvine Valley in the win.
