The Irvine Valley women's basketball team took on what has been its Orange Empire Conference rival over the last several seasonsd Monday night on the road.
IVC, ranked No. 1 in Southern California in the latest California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll, traveled to No. 14 Cypress.
The Lasers won the first quarter and then had a big second quarter to pull away for a 80-48 victory at Cypress.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 13-2 overall and 2-0 in conference, while Cypress fell to 9-8 overall and 2-1 in conference.
The Lasers' big second quarter was paced by sophomore guards Morgan Higgins and Paola Rao and freshman forward Sarah Matossian.
Higgins scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the second period. Rao and Matossian added six points each.
Irvine Valley led, 46-17, at the half and cruised from there.
The Lasers were efficient at the offensive end, finishing the game shooting 54.9 percent (28 of 51) from the field as a team.
IVC also made 18 of 22 free throws (81.8 percent).
Irvine Valley held Cypress to 28.6 percent (14 of 49) shooting from the field.
The Lasers also won the turnover battle, 24-11, and scored 22 points off of Cypress' 24 turnovers.
Higgins led the way with 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals for IVC.
Roa added 14 points, three rebounds and two assists and sophomore guard Jessica Suruor and Matossian each chipped in nine points. Matossian also had 10 rebounds and two steals.
And freshman guard Aliya Richmond came off the bench with 10 big points for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley is scheduled to play again on Friday at Orange Coast.
