IVC women’s basketball team pulls off a 64-60 upset over No. 4 Mt. SAC in regional opener

IVC’s women’s basketball team, shown celebrating after a win earlier this year, captured its playoff opener Saturday (Photo courtesy IVC Athletics)

Irvine Valley’s women’s basketball team wasn’t happy with its No. 13 seed in the CCCAA Southern California Regional Playoffs.

And the Lasers showed that Saturday night at No. 4 Mt. San Antonio.

Irvine Valley won at Mt. SAC for the second straight year in the post season, beating the Mounties, 64-60, in the second-round of the playoffs.

IVC (23-5) now moves on to face No. 5 Ventura Saturday night at Ventura with a trip to the state tournament on the line.

The Lasers, who have won two straight Orange Empire Conference titles, are looking for their second appearance in a row at the state event.

Irvine Valley opened the game on an 11-2 run but Mt. SAC (21-9) hung tough, closing the gap to five, 15-10, at the end of the first quarter.

Trailing 26-20 with 3:53 left in the second, the Mounties went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 28 at the half.

The Lasers opened up a 34-28 lead in the third only to see Mt. SAC take the lead, 36-35, on a Tiana Douglas layup at the 5:02 mark. Irvine Valley responded with a 15-3 run and took a 50-39 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Irvine Valley held on the rest of the way. Mt. SAC got within three points in the fourth, but the Lasers moved on.

Irvine Valley freshman guard Anai Washington led all scorers with 23 points. Sophomore guard Lexi Vail, who was the OEC MVP this year, ended with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists and freshman center Zoe Stachowski had 11 points and 15 rebounds for IVC.

Kiara Stiger led Mt. SAC in scoring with 16 points.