Irvine Valley's women's basketball team started Orange Empire Conference play with a 71-61 loss at Santa Ana on Wednesday.
The Lasers saw their record go to 8-9 overall. Santa Ana improved to 14-3 overall.
Irvine Valley led, 14-7, after the first quarter, held a 12-point lead in the second period and were up, 31-30, at the half.
But Santa Ana out-scored IVC, 19-12, in the third quarter to take the lead for good at 49-43.
Irvine Valley shot 40.0 percent for the game compared to Santa Ana's 43.9 percent. And the Dons out-rebounded the Lasers, 40-33.
The Lasers were paced by freshman guard Samantha Barnett, who finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Moka Saiki ended with 14 points and four rebounds and sophomore guard Haruka Mikuma added 10 points and five assists.
Kiki Graham had 21 points and five rebounds for Santa Ana.
IVC plays again on Friday, playing Cypress in a conference game.