The Irvine Valley women's basketball team, ranked No. 12 in the state, didn't play its best game of the season, but the Lasers still found a way to win.
Irvine Valley came back from a seven-point deficit at the half and defeated Riverside, 77-72, on the road Friday night in an Orange Empire Conference contest.
IVC improved its record to 21-7 overall and 12-2 in conference play. Irvine Valley finished second in conference and is expected to be one of the top eight teams in the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs and receive a bye in the opening round of the postseason.
Sophomore wing player Christen Ziska led the way for the Lasers with 25 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore post player Makena Tomlinson added 18 points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks and freshman guard Moka Saiki had 11 points. Sophomore guard Emily Freeman had a team-high seven assists and helped lead the comeback in the second half.
Irvine Valley shot 45.3 percent (24 of 53) from the field as a team, knocked down 12 three-pointers and made 17 of 18 free throws.
Riverside was paced by Janara Williams, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds.
The So. Cal. Playoff pairings will be released Sunday night.
