Originally written for publishing on Feb 21, 2013.

Fullerton College women’s basketball team ended up on the wrong side of a 15-1 run by the visiting Irvine Valley College Lasers in a 52-46 defeat this past Wednesday night.

The Hornets were held without a field goal for the final five and a half minutes of the last home game for the team’s sophmore players.

The Hornets (6-19, 2-9 OEC) seemed to be cruising to a victory after building up a 13-point lead in the middle of the second half. The Lasers took advantage of some cold shooting and sloppy play down the stretch to come from behind.

“We relaxed,” said Hornet sophomore forward Amber Washington. “We should have kept our foot on the gas, kept pushing.”

In what was her final home game of her Hornet career, Washington contributed seven points and 15 rebounds. She also added three steals and two blocks, but the Hornets had trouble keeping the Lasers out of the paint as they surrendered 21 offensive rebounds.

Even though they only shot 27 percent for the game, Irvine Valley ended up taking 17 more shots from the field than the Hornets.

“They were more aggressive than us down the stretch,” said Hornet head coach Mary Hegarty after the game. “We had a good lead in the second half and they just kept getting to the foul line.”

The Hornets struggled to work the ball inside, committing 27 turnovers leading to 19 of the Lasers’ points.

“We turned it over and they got too many offensive rebounds,” said Fullerton freshman Tatiana Scott. “We wanted to keep everyone inside and make them shoot.”

Both teams came out of the gate playing great defense and each team struggled to score. It was a 13-9 Hornet deficit after the first 11 minutes of play.

Sophomore guard Irma Urzua got the Hornets rolling after drilling her second three-point shot of the game, while freshman forward Stephanie Drayer followed up with turnaround basket in the paint to give the Hornets the lead.

The Hornets then grew the lead with great three-point shooting, connecting on seven of their first 14 three-point attempts. Urzua drilled four threes on the night and finished with 14 points and six rebounds. But the team’s outside shooting cooled off as they missed their final eight three-pointers.

“I think maybe we rushed it a little bit,” said Hornet freshman guard Nanette Beightol.

There is still one game left on the schedule for the Hornets to try and put an end to their losing streak as the Hornets visit Orange Coast College this Friday night, in what would be the last game for all the sophomores.

“It’s our last game,” said Washington. “We have nothing to lose. Let’s leave it all on the court.”

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.