SANTA ANA - Despite pulling within seven points after trailing by as many as 20 in the first half, the Dons were unable to overcome the early deficit in their 80-63 loss to Irvine Valley College.

The loss drops the Dons to 8-10 on the season and 0-2 in the Orange Empire Conference while the Lasers are now 13-7 and 2-0.

Irvine Valley opened the game with back-to-back three pointers before the Dons battled back to cut the Lasers early lead to 10-8. However, the Lasers went on a 20-0 run to establish a 30-10 lead over the Dons with just under eight minutes left in the half.

The Dons cut into the large lead before the buzzer sounded, getting within nine points at 40-31 going into the break. Berlin Ohanesian scored eight of her 10 first half points during that run to help the Dons get within single digits.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Ohanesian converted a four-point play to bring the Dons within seven at the 18:30 mark. After the Lasers built their lead back up to as many as 12, the Dons used another four-point play, this time by Andrea Thompson, to pull within seven again.

However, that would be the closest the Dons would get for the remaining 16 minutes of the game as the Lasers built their lead to its largest point of the second half, 17, at the final score of 80-63.

Ohanesian turned in a game-high of 27 points in the loss while two other teammates cracked double digits with Thompson scoring 11 and Ashley Whisler 10, all in the first half.

For the Lasers, four of their starters scored in double digits led by Shomari McCorkle with 22 points. Jasmine Kennon added 13 with Taylor Casey scoring 11 and Amber Wharton scoring 10. Kiara King also scored in double digits with 10 points.

Two Lasers notched double-doubles with Casey adding 14 rebounds to her 11 points while McCorkle grabbed 11 rebounds with her 22 points. Wharton was one assist shy from recording a double-double.

The Dons return to on Friday when they travel to Fullerton College.