Chargers Lose Second Straight to Lasers

Cypress College's only two conference losses this season have been to Irvine Valley.

Chelsea Walton

Irvine, Calif. - For the second straight game, Cypress College couldn't stop Irvine Valley when it needed to and paid the price with another Orange Empire Conference defeat at the hands of the Lasers. IVC had five players score eight points or more in the 69-58 OEC victory.

In the first meeting of the year between these two squads all the way back on November 13, in the Chargers third game of the season, Cypress blew out IVC 72-46 at the Pasadena Tournament in a non-league game. In the next two, the Lasers are 2-0 with a 66-60 victory at Cypress in the first round of OEC play, and the 11-point win this time around.

Sophomore Melissa Jensen finished with game-highs in points (18) and rebounds (8). Chelsea Walton added 15 points, six assists and four rebounds. Sloan Turner tied Jensen for the game-high in rebounding (8), and game-leading three blocks.

Despite shooting 40 percent from the floor in the second half, Cypress wasn't able to get stops against the Lasers after the break. After going into the locker room tied at 24-24, IVC came out on a mission to hit 15 of 27 shots from the floor - and 13 of 15 from the free throw line.

The loss puts Cypress in a must-win situation against Orange Coast College on the road Friday. Irvine Valley has to play at Fullerton in their season finale to earn a share of the OEC crown. If Fullerton completes the season sweep of IVC at home, the Hornets will share the title with Cypress as long as the Chargers get it done at Coast.