Women's basketball team wins own tournament title
Dec 10, 2005
The Irvine Valley women’s basketball team won its own tournament title, defeating Compton, 66-63, Saturday afternoon at Irvine Valley.
The contest featured two of the top-ranked teams in the state. Compton was ranked 10th in the state and Irvine Valley was ranked 12th in the latest poll.
The Lasers battled back late in the second half for the win.
Comptonheld a 50-37 lead after a basket by Janesha Washington with 13:03 left in the game.
Irvine Valley then went on a 13-1 run over the next 7:06. A driving lay-up by sophomore guard Monique Newsome brought the Lasers to within 51-50.
Irvine Valley took the lead two minutes later at 54-53 when sophomore forward Vanessa Dominguez scored inside.
It was back and forth after that.
Compton went up, 57-54, on a basket by Shaquita Darring and later held a 59-56 lead on a fadeaway jumper by Alexis Brown.
Irvine Valley tied the game at 59-59 with 3:03 left on a three-point play by Vanessa Dominguez.
Two free throws by sophomore center Brittney Crawford with 2:45 to play gave Irvine Valley its first lead (61-59) since late in the first half.
Brown tied the game at 61-61 with another basket with 2:30 remaining.
Two free throws by freshman guard Robin Smith put Irvine Valley ahead, 63-61, with 2:18 to play.
But Compton’s Brown tied the game, 63-63, on two free throws with 20.5 seconds left.
Crawford put the game away for Irvine Valley with 13.6 seconds to go. After she was fouled a technical was called on Compton’s Corine Barnes.
Crawford made one of the two technical foul shots and then sank both of her free throws to put Irvine Valley ahead, 66-63.
Dominguez stole the ball at the other end as Compton tried to set up for a final shot and time expired.
Irvine Valley made 26 of 31 free throws in the game.
The win improved Irvine Valley’s record to 11-1 on the season, while Compton fell to 11-3.
Dominguez was named the tournament’s most valuable player after having 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals.
Crawford added 12 points and six rebounds and Smith had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Lasers.
Brown led Compton with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Washington added 22 points and five assists for the Tartars.