Irvine Valley upsets Palomar, top-ranked team in So Cal, 65-45 in front of home fans

Irvine Valley sophomore standout guard Morgan Higgins drives to the basket Saturday night. (Photo courtesy IVC Athletics).

The Irvine Valley women’s basketball team was ready for Saturday night.

The Lasers, ranked eighth in the state and fifth in Southern California in the latest California Community College Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Poll, took down the top team in Southern California.

Irvine Valley defeated No. 3 in the state Palomar, 65-45, Saturday at home.

IVC improved its record to 11-2 overall and handed the Comets (10-2) just their second loss of the season.

Defense was the key for the Lasers as they held Palomar to its fewest points in a game this year. The Comets had scored at least 59 points in each game until Saturday.

The Lasers also held Palomar to its lowest shooting percentage from the field in a game this year (31.7 percent) and turned the Comets over 26 times, which led to 22 Irvine Valley points.

IVC led, 15-12, at the end of the first quarter, and out-scored Palomar, 16-13, in the second period to take a 31-25 advantage into the break.

Irvine Valley never trailed after the first quarter and was up by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Four Laser players scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Morgan Higgins, who finished with 24 points and five assists.

Freshman forward Sarah Matossian, and sophomore guards Paola Roa and Jessica Suruor each had 11 points.

Matossian also contributed eight rebounds and six steals and Roa had a team-high seven steals for the Lasers.

IVC is back in action on Wednesday in Orange Empire Conference action at Golden West at 5 p.m.

–Courtesy IVC Athletics