DAVIS — The UC Irvine women’s basketball team clinched a share of the Big West Conference regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed for next week’s conference tournament with a 70-58 victory over UC Davis on Saturday afternoon at UCD’s University Credit Union Center.

It was a record-breaking end to the regular season for UCI (26-5 overall, 17-3 Big West), as senior Hunter Hernandez (24 points) became the program’s all-time single-season scoring leader, and the Anteaters earned their program-record 26th victory. This is UCI’s second Big West regular-season title in four years.

“The regular season is a grind with 20 games, so to win it is a testament to this team’s focus and belief,” head coach Tamara Inoue said. “And having to finish it with a win at UC Davis, who are always championship contenders, it means so much more.”

UCI and UC San Diego shared the title with identical 17-3 conference records, but the Anteaters earned the No. 1 seed on a tiebreaker. UCI and UCSD will receive coveted double-byes into the Friday afternoon semifinals of the eight-team Big West Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Henderson, Nevada.

UC Davis (22-9, 15-5) finished two games back in third place and will receive a bye into Thursday’s quarterfinals.

With the title and top seed on the line, UCI delivered under pressure. The Aggies led early, but the Anteaters outscored the hosts 21-11 in the second quarter to take a nine-point lead at halftime. UCI stayed in control the rest of the way, holding a double-digit advantage for all but the first minute of the second half.

Hernandez led all players with her 24 points (her third straight 20-point game), shooting 6 for 15 from the field and a perfect 10 for 10 at the free-throw line. She added six rebounds, three assists and three steals. With 603 points, she is the only UCI women’s player ever to surpass 600 in a season.

Junior Shirel Nahum had 15 points (3 for 4 from 3-point range), six rebounds and three assists, while senior Jada Wynn added 13 points and five assists. Sophomore Lauryn Madsen scored all nine of her points from 3-point range, and sophomore Daniela Falcon Hernandez grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.

UCI shot 43.1% overall and a scorching 11 for 22 from behind the arc. The Anteaters also made all 15 of their free throws, outrebounded the Aggies 34-26 and had a 10-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Nya Epps had 21 points to pace UC Davis, which shot 39.2% overall and was just 3 for 23 from 3-point range. The Aggies were also 15 for 15 at the free-throw line.

The Aggies led 14-7 midway through the first quarter, but UCI used an 11-3 run to get back into the game and trailed just 20-19 going into the second period. The teams were deadlocked at 27-all when Madsen made a 3-pointer to start a 13-4 Anteaters run over the final 4:55 for a 40-31 halftime advantage.

UC Davis scored first to begin the third quarter, but UCI capped a 10-0 run with a Wynn 3-pointer for a 50-33 lead at the 5:12 mark. The Anteaters led by double digits the rest of the way.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Final, through Saturday, March 7

Team – Overall, Big West

UC Irvine – 26-5, 17-3

UC San Diego – 22-8, 17-3

UC Davis – 22-9, 15-5

Hawaii – 20-10, 14-6

Cal State Fullerton – 17-13, 13-7

UC Santa Barbara – 20-9, 12-8

UC Riverside – 10-20, 8-12

Cal State Northridge – 10-19, 6-14

Long Beach State – 5-25, 4-16

Cal State Bakersfield – 7-23, 2-18

Cal Poly (SLO) – 4-26, 2-18

Related Articles