Women's basketball team knocks off Orange Coast
Feb 05, 2009
The Irvine Valley women's basketball team was close to beating Orange Coast the first time the two teams met in Orange Empire Conference play.
The Pirates pulled off a 48-43 win at IVC on Jan. 9.
Irvine Valley didn't let the second game between the two squads get away.
The Lasers earned a 58-54 upset win over the host Pirates at OCC's Peterson Gym on Wednesday night.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 14-12 overall and 2-6 in conference. Orange Coast slipped to 18-8 overall and 5-2 in conference.
The Lasers were led by freshman forward Courtney Kollasch. Playing 39 of the 40 minutes, Kollasch finished with 19 points. Freshman Erika Garcia added 15 points, sophomore forward Ashley Dunn had 11 points and freshman forward Brittney Horton chipped in nine points and six rebounds.
Irvine Valley made a respectable 22 of 43 shots from the field (51.2 percent). Free throw shooting nearly cost the Lasers, however. They were just 9 of 18 from the line.
Irvine Valley was 8 of 16 from the charity stripe in the second half, but it still out-scored Orange coast, 32-26, in the final 20 minutes to come back for the win.
Trailing, 55-52, with 30 seconds left, Garcia missed two free throws to give OCC a chance.
Orange Coast's Casey Gomez was fouled and made both free throws to make it a one point game.
Kollasch was then fouled with 22 seconds left and she made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead up to two points.
Orange Coast tried to tie the game, but turned the ball over with four seconds to play. And Dunn put the win away with two free throws.
Gomez led Orange Coast with 22 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, hosting Riverside at 7:30 p.m.