Butler hits game-winning shot to lift women's basketball team
Feb 13, 2008
The Irvine Valley women's basketball team kept its season alive with a thrilling 66-64 Orange Empire Conference win over Santa Ana Wednesday night.
The Lasers ended up sweeping the two-game series with the Dons.
The win also moved Irvine Valley from sixth place in the conference standings to tied for fourth. Irvine Valley, Riverside and Santa Ana all have records of 5-6 in conference. The top four teams should make the Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Irvine Valley can still think about a playoff spot thanks to the efforts of freshman forward DJ Butler and sophomore forwards Nicole Tait and Mishella Scott on Wednesday.
Scott scored a season-high 17 points, Tait kept the Lasers in the game down the stretch and Butler hit the winning lay-up with 2.1 seconds left receiving a nice pass from sophomore guard Jenna Schonfeld.
Irvine Valley led, 32-29, at halftime, but Santa Ana opened the second half on a 12-1 run. A basket by Jamie Glover gave Santa Ana a 41-33 lead with 15:14 to play.
The Dons took their biggest lead of the half at 46-37, but then Irvine Valley went on a run of its own.
The Lasers outscored the Dons, 14-4 over a three and a half minute stretch. A basket by sophomore forward Nicole Tait put Irvine Valley ahead, 53-50, with 6:55 to go.
The game was back and forth the rest of the way. Irvine Valley led, 53-53, and then Cassie Rico hit a three-pointer to give Santa Ana a 55-53 advantage with 5:30 to go.
The Lasers went back up on top, 56-55, on a three-pointer by Tait. After Santa Ana regained the lead, Tait made a basket to give IVC a 58-57 lead. And Tait hit another three-pointer to put the Lasers ahead, 61-57, with 3:33 to go.
Santa Ana answered with four straight points, capped by a lay-up by Heather Couzens to tie the game at 61-61 with 1:55 to go.
A three-pointer by Schonfeld with 1:14 to play moved IVC back up by three points at 64-61.
Couzens made two free throws with 48.7 seconds to go to bring Santa An within one. And after IVC was called for traveling its next time down, the Dons had a chance to win the game on their final possession.
Couzens was fouled with 9.3 seconds left. She had been 6 for 6 from the line, but made just 1 of 2 attempts and the game was tied, 64-64.
The Lasers made the most of their last shot with Schonfeld driving into the lane and leaving the ball off to Butler for the easy score.
Glover's attempt at a three-pointer from halfcourt as time expired was off the mark.
Scott was 8 of 14 from the field for her 17 points. Tait finished with 15 points, Schonfeld had 12 points and seven rebounds and Butler added six points. The Lasers shot 46.7 percent from the field (28 of 60) in the game.
Santa Ana out-rebounded IVC, 46-35, and had less turnovers, but only shot 33.8 percent from the field (22 of 65) for the game. The Dons also made just 18 of 27 free throws.
Couzens led Santa Ana with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Lauren Kribell had 14 points and six rebounds, Rico added 12 points and Mariella McElroy had 10 points for the Dons.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, hosting Cypress at 5:30 p.m.