STRONG EFFORT FALLS SHORT

In an Orange Empire Conference home game, the Hornets ran with No. 15 Irvine Valley College for three quarters, but then FC ran out of gas losing to Lasers 70-57.

It was a close game that featured 8 lead changes and 7 ties as both the Hornets and Lasers duked it out on the court. In the first half both teams were matching one another shot for shot to a 28-28 tie by the halftime break. 

The third quarter saw the Lasers take a small lead 43-38 lead by 4:15 on a jumper by Christen Ziska, but Fullerton knotted it up at 43 two minutes later thanks to a shot by Xochitl Hood. The quarter ended with IVC up 53-49.

It appeared as if the Hornets were zeroing in on the Lasers in the opening minutes of the 4th quarter pulling within two (53-51), but Irvine Valley soon took off on a 17-6 run that dashed any hopes of a Fullerton victory.

Xochitl Hood just missed a double-double with a team-high 21 points and 9 boards. Kaylee Shimoda chipped in 11 points with 8 rebounds. Toni Ballestero and Jasmie Arnold both added 6 points.

Up Next: Fullerton (10-8 overall, 1-3 OEC) will try and pick it back up when they host Saddleback College in the Nest for another OEC game on Wednesday, January 24th at 6:00 pm.

*Photo by Matt Brown