WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: OVERTIME LOSS

The Lady Hornets lost in overtime 70-65 at Irvine Valley College Wednesday night in a close Orange Empire Conference match-up.

Ranked 7th in the state, the Lasers, improved their record to 19-3 overall and 6-0 in the conference standings. Fullerton, ranked 16th in the state, slipped to 14-7 overall and 3-3 in conference.

The Lasers pulled out the victory by out-rebounding Fullerton, 57-38. The Lasers had 30 offensive rebounds in the game and out-scored Fullerton, 21-10, on second chance points.

The game was close throughout with 10 ties and nine lead changes.

Fullerton led by as many as eight points early on.

The Lasers took a 30-28 lead into halftime on a buzzer-beater layup by Jordan Coleman.

The second half was back and forth.

Fullerton went up, 51-48, on back-to-back layups by Michelle Okoroike and Emilee Dy with 5:43 left in regulation.

A free throw by Coleman and then a three-pointer by Brennan gave Irvine Valley a 52-51 lead with 4:39 to play.

A layup by Yana Pollard with 4:14 to go put Fullerton back on top, 53-52, with 4:14 to go.

Neither team scored again until Casey hit a three-pointer to give Irvine Valley a 55-53 advantage with 1:35 left.

Okoroike tied it at 55-55 on a layup 16 seconds later.

Coleman was fouled going to the basket with 1:04 to play and sank two free throws to give Irvine Valley a 57-55 lead.

But Fullerton's Noelle Cobb tied the game at 57-57 with a runner in the lane with 50 seconds left.

Both teams missed on final chances in regulation.

Irvine Valley scored the first points of the overtime on a jumper by freshman guard Erika Mercado and then never looked back.

A three-pointer by Casey with 1:49 left in the overtime gave Irvine Valley a 65-59 lead.

Turner and Casey each hit a pair of free throws and Coleman made 1 of 2 free throws to close out the contest for Irvine Valley.

The Lasers shot just 34.2 percent (26 of 76) from the field for the game, but did have 21 assists on their 26 made baskets.

Fullerton shot 42.4 percent (28 of 66) for the game. The Hornets were just 3 of 20 from three-point range (15.0 percent).

Fullerton was led by Dy, who finished with 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kelli Calton had 12 points and eight rebounds, Cobb added 10 points and Pollard finished with nine rebounds, six blocks and three steals.

Up Next: FC begins the second round of conference play this Friday, January 30th hosting Riverside City College (14-8, 3-3) at 7:00 pm.