The Irvine Valley women's basketball team will open the California Community College Athletic Association South Regional Playoffs on Saturday at home.
Irvine Valley, seeded eighth in the bracket, hosts No. 9 Mt. San Jacinto at 5:30 p.m.
Irvine Valley has a record of 20-8 overall and finished third in the Orange Empire Conference with a mark of 8-4. The Lasers received a bye in the opening round of the playoffs.
Irvine Valley last played Feb. 14 and defeated Fullerton, 63-47.
Sophomore guard Kennedy Pucci had a team-high 20 points and added six rebounds and three assists.
Freshman guard Trasara Alexander contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, freshman guard Emily Freeman had 11 points and sophomore guard Kaila Truby added four points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in the win for the Lasers.
Alexander, Pucci and Freeman were also each named all-conference players earlier this week. Alexander and Pucci were picked to the first team and Freeman was selected to the second team.
Pucci also earned defensive player of the year honors in the conference.
On the year, Alexander is averaging 15.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Pucci averages 9.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, Freeman is averaging 8.8 points and sophomore post player Giselle Martinez is averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.
Mt. San Jacinto has been on a roll and enters Saturday night's game with a record of 27-2 overall.
The Eagles have won 17 games in a row, including going 14-0 to take the Inland Empire Athletic Conference title.
Mt. San Jacinto captured its first game in the playoffs on Wednesday, taking down Santa Barbara, 66-57.
The Eagles got off to a slow start, but led, 16-7, at the end of the first quarter and, 36-30, at the half.
The game was tied in the third quarter before the Eagles pulled away.
Alexis Pina led the way for the Eagles with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Sandee Heiermann added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Rayven Crook chipped in 13 points and Shyann Morreo grabbed 10 rebounds.
Mt. San Jacinto out-rebounded Santa Barbara City, 56-34.
On the year, Heiermann is averaging 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. Pina averages 12.0 points and 10.7 rebounds, Jana Roman averages 11.2 points and 11.1 rebounds, Crook is averaging 9.4 points and Valeria Brewer averages 8.8 points and 3.0 assists per contest.
The winner of Saturday's game at IVC moves on to the So. Cal. Regional Finals on Saturday, Mar. 4 against either No. 1 Orange Coast or No. 16 LA Trade Tech.
