TWO SOPHOMORE HORNETS EARN ALL-OEC HONORS

Sophomore standouts Erin Choi and Hailey Lakey earned All-Orange Empire Conference honors after finishing the season as the conference's top two scorers.

A quick and dynamic point guard who can score from anywhere on the floor, Choi followed up her Second Team All-OEC selection from last season with a dominant sophomore campaign. She led the OEC in scoring at 17.7 points per game earning First Team All-OEC honors. Choi also contributed 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, showcasing her all-around impact on the court.

Lakey earned Second Team All-OEC honors after ranking second in the conference in scoring at 16.5 points per game. A slashing guard with excellent ball control, Lakey was also a force on the glass leading the team with 187 rebounds (6.7 rpg). She added 3.2 assists per game solidifying her role as a key contributor for the Hornets.

The one-two scoring punch of Choi and Lakey helped propel the Hornets into the Southern California Regional Playoffs for the second consecutive season. No. 22 Fullerton will travel to face No. 9 Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday, February 25, with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Irvine Valley College's Samantha Barnett was named the 2025-26 OEC Most Valuable Player after leading the Lasers to another conference title ending a three-year championship drought.

A sophomore guard, Barnett served as the engine of the Lasers offense establishing herself as a true floor general. She averaged 13.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while guiding Irvine Valley with a strong conference campaign.

The Offensive Player of the Year honor went to Christaesha Jackson of Cypress College. A complete and versatile athlete, Jackson followed up last season's Defensive Player of the Year award with an outstanding offensive performance. She led the conference in rebounds at 9.7 per game while scoring 15.3 points per contest, adding 2.3 assists per game.

Irvine Valley's Kivonni Williams earned Defensive Player of the Year accolades after recording 51 steals on the season. Williams also contributed offensively averaging 10.6 ppg along with 6 rebounds a game.

Lasers head coach Claire Gocke was named OEC Coach of the Year after guiding Irvine Valley to its 6th conference championship, since 1987, in just her second season at the helm. The Lasers enter the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs as the No. 2 seed with an impressive 24-4 overall record.

2025-26 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE TEAM

Most Valuable Player - Symantha Barnett, Irvine Valley

Offensive Player of the Year - Christaesha Jackson, Cypress

Defensive Player of the Year - Kivonni Williams, Irvine Valley

OEC Coach of the Year - Claire Gocke, Irvine Valley

1st Team All-OEC

Symantha Barnett, Irvine Valley

Christaesha Jackson, Cypress

Kassidy Beach, Saddleback

Alexis Price, Irvine Valey

Andrea Rico, Orange Coast

Erin Choi, Fullerton

Mariah Henderson, Cypress

Anaya Beard, Santa Ana

Nina Saiki, Saddleback

Kivonni Williams, Irvine Valley            

2nd Team All-OEC

Melaiah Joseph, Orange Coast

Kalynne Mendez, Saddleback

Hailey Lakey, Fullerton

MJ Gillman, Orange Coast

Makayla Rutledge, Saddleback

Marina Interiano, Cypress

Kiki Graham, Santa Ana

Gianna DeForest, Irvine Valley

Marina Leiva, Cypress

Mia Rivera, Santa Ana