Women's basketball team earns another conference win
Feb 11, 2009
The Irvine Valley women's basketball team kept its slim Southern California Regional Playoff chances alive with a 51-37 win over Saddleback in an Orange Empire Conference game at Irvine Valley on Wednesday night.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 15-14 overall and 3-7 in conference. The Lasers are in fifth-place in the conference standings, one game behind fourth-place Riverside (4-6 in conference).
The Lasers lost to Saddleback by 25 points the first time the two teams met. But it was all Irvine Valley on Wednesday night.
The Lasers out-scored the Gauchos by seven points in each half. Irvine Valley led, 22-15, at the end of the first half despite making just 9 of 30 shots from the floor (30.0 percent).
IVC was able to get some easy baskets, however, after forcing Saddleback into 18 first-half turnovers.
The Lasers shot much mbetter in the second half to pull away. They made 11 of 23 attempts (47.8 percent).
Irvine Valley led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Leading the way was sophomore Ashley Dunn, who finished with 22 points, six rebounds and five steals.
Freshman Erika Garcia added 14 points and four steals and freshman Coutrney Kollasch finished with 10 points.
Saddleback, which shot 32.6 percent (15 of 46) for the game, was paced by Arlene Kaleopa, who had nine points. Sue Rodriguez and Keshia Moore each chipped in seven points.
Irvine Valley plays at Santa Ana on Friday at 7:30 p.m.