The Irvine Valley women's basketball team plays maybe its biggest game of the 2025-26 season Thursday night at home against Orange Coast aty 7 p.m.
The Lasers, Saddleback, Cypress and Orange Coast are all battling for the top spots in the Orange Empire Conference. And all four squads are ranked in the top 12 in the state.
In the current RPI, Orange Coast is third in Southern California with Irvine Valley at No. 4.
The Lasers went on the road and knocked off OCC, 67-57, on Jan. 21.
Orange Coast has a record of 18-7 overall and 6-3 in conference.
The Pirates were ranked No. 8 in the last CCCWBCA state poll.
Coast won a big game last Friday at home against another highly ranked team, Cypress, 46-43.
In a game that saw both teams shoot a combined 32 percent from the floor and 12 percent from 3-point land, the emphasis was on defense, where both teams made the other earn every single point scored.
Melaiah Joseph led OCC with 13 points and five rebounds, while Sydney Sloan was perfect from the floor (5 for 5) for 10 points to go along with five rebounds.
Andrea Rico chipped in 13 rebounds and eight points and Madisyn Foulk and Rico each four assists.
On the year, Joseph averages 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, Gillman averages 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds, Rico is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game and Kayla Borgelt averages 6.2 points per game for Orange Coast.
Irvine Valley now has a record of 21-4 overall and 7-2 in the OEC. The Lasers, ranked No. 10 in the state, had a big, 75-47 win over Riverside on Tuesday night at home.
Irvine Valley stayed within striking distance of first place in conference.
The Lasers showcased their sophomores on Sophomore Night Tuesday.
All five sophomores started and four scored in double figures with forward Neryah Lokeni leading the way with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven steals.
Sophomore wing Alexis Price also contributed 16 points and added five rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore guard Symantha Barnett added 13 points, five assists and two steals and Kivonni Williams chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Freshman guard Ava Duarte came off the bench with six points and three assists for IVC.
On the year, Price averages 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, Barnett is averaging 13.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 steals and Wiliams averages 10.7, 6.3 points and 1.8 steals a game for Irvine Valley.
Irvine Valley finishes the regular season next Wednesday at Santa Ana and then next Friday at Fullerton.
