WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: VALIANT EFFORT FALLS SHORT

Fullerton hosted No. 6 in state Irvine Valley College in the Hornets Nest on Wednesday night and lost a very close Orange Empire Conference game 75-71.

The defeat puts the Hornets at 13-8 overall with a 5-2 Orange Empire Conference record (3^rd place). The Laser victory gives them an overall record of 18-2 (7^th straight win) and they remain unbeaten in the OEC at 6-0.

The game was a battle from the opening tipoff with both teams jockeying for position. IVC took an 18-14 lead at two minutes in the first quarter, but the Hard-working Hornets got within a point by the start of the second quarter (18-17).

Irvine Valley pushed forward grabbing a 30-22 lead by the four-minute mark of the second quarter, but again Fullerton fought back to tie it up 38-38 by halftime. 

The third quarter had the same result. Irvine Valley opened up a 52-44 lead, but FC climbed back to lock up the quarter at 55-55.

IVC snagged their largest lead of the game at 5:27 in the fourth (68-57), but the Hornets would not go away. With a 1:34 left in the game, Fullerton worked back within a point of the Lasers 69-68. Two layups by Anai Washington and Zoe Stachowski put IVC up 73-68 with 27 seconds left. Moriah Serrano made gave FC hope hitting a three-pointer with 18 seconds on the clock (73-71). With no other choice but to foul, Fullerton watched as IVC put the game away on free throws narrowly missing the opportunity to stun the top team in the conference.

Serrano led the Hornets in scoring with 17 points. Katie Salas put up 15 points. Hannah Jones and Sydney Nekola both scored 9 points each in a strong effort.

Up Next: The Hornets (13-8 overall, 5-2 conference) will play at Orange Coast College this Friday, January 31^st at 5:00 pm.

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