The Irine Valley women's basketball team capped a solid week with a 58-48 Orange Empire Conference win over Santa Ana at home on Friday night.
Irvine Valley led from start to finish in its second straight victory to improve its record to 18-7 overall and 6-3 in conference on Coaches vs. Cancer night.
The Lasers remained in a tie for third place with Riverside. But both squads only trail Cypress by a half game for second place.
Riverside upset Cypress Friday night.
And now Irvine Valley has a big game at Riverside next Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The Lasers scored the first eight points of the game Friday against Santa Ana and never looked back.
IVC led, 8-3, at the end of the first quarter and, 17-12, at the end of the first half.
Santa Ana pulled within 19-17 after a three-pointer by Selena Hernandez early in the third quarter.
But the Lasers then went on a 15-1 run and took a 34-19 advantage after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Kennedy Pucci and then a basket by sophomore guard Kaila Truby with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
IVC built its lead to 40-21 at the end of the third period.
Santa Ana rallied in the final quarter and got within six points (52-46) on a three-pointer by Brianna Urena with 2:38 left.
But Pucci drove to the basket and scored on IVC's next possession to seal the win.
Hernandez had a game-high 26 points for Santa Ana. She also had three rebounds and two assists.
Urena added seven points, five rebounds and two steals.
Irvine Valley was led by freshman guard Trasara Alexander. She finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds. Freshman guard Emily Freeman had 12 points, going 4 of 8 from three-point range, and Pucci finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists for IVC.
