Irvine Valley Women Defeat Orange Coast

Irvine Valley got two free throws when it needed them and Orange Coast got a two-point basket when it needed a three-pointer.

The result was a 59-58 victory for visiting Irvine Valley in an Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball game Friday that kept the Lasers tied for first.

Heather Cunningham made two free throws to put Irvine Valley ahead with five seconds left, 59-56.

Orange Coast (16-8, 4-2) rushed the ball up court and a long pass ended up in the hands of Chantay Peyton under the basket. No teammate was near the three-point line so she made a layin as time ran out.

Cunningham finished with a team-high 17 points and the Pirates’ Jennifer Ludwicki scored 23 points. She banked in a three-pointer to put the Pirates ahead with 1:45 left, 56-55. But Irvine Valley (17-4, 5-1) took the lead, 57-56, about 20 seconds later when Theresa Gethins made a driving shot.