THIS WEEK
San Diego State at UC Irvine ·  Fri., Dec. 16 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Center · Irvine, Calif.
Radio: KUCI 88.9 FM or www.ucirvinesports.com/media/listen_live/index
Video: http://www.fansonly.com/schools/bigw/allaccess/index.html

ANTEATERS HOST NEWEST BIG WEST MEMBER: UC Irvine will host the newest Big West member San Diego State Friday (Dec. 16) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.

On Monday, San Diego State announced that it will become a Big West member beginning with the 2013-14 season. The Aztecs were an original member of the Conference, then known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, from 1969 to 1978. The Aztecs' women's program was a member of the Conference from 1985 to 1990.

VS THE AZTECS: San Diego State holds a 17-6 series record over the Anteaters.

The Anteaters won the last meeting 68-66 in San Diego on Nov. 23, 2010. 

San Diego State is 4-4 overall, coming off a 56-45 loss against the University of San Diego on Dec. 8.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Following the San Diego State game, UCI will go back on the road.

The Anteaters will play the next four on the road, concluding non-conference action at Northern Colorado on Dec. 19 and Wyoming on Dec. 21.

UCI will open Big West competition traveling to Cal State Northridge on Dec. 29 and Long Beach State on Dec. 31.

UCI returns to the Bren on Jan. 5 hosting Pacific at 7:00 p.m.

WHITE AMONG NATION'S BEST: Forward Jazmyne White is ranked 11th in the nation in field goal percentage. The junior, who leads the Big West Conference, owns a .595 mark (50-84) from the field. At 5-9, she is the smallest player ranked in the top 40 in that category. White leads the team with a 12.9 scoring average, which is seventh best among Big West players. The junior has posted double-figure points in each of the last seven games. She is also averaging 5.9 rebounds per outing which ranks 10th in the league.

MCCALISTER MAGIC: Senior Kassandra McCalister has led the Anteaters in scoring the last two games, including posting a game-high 26 points in the victory over Sacramento State last week. She was 10-15 from the free throw line versus the Hornets which was the most attempts from the line among Big West players this year and ties the most made this season. Over the last four games, the senior guard is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting .467 (21-45) from the floor.

UCI RANKS 16TH NATIONALLY IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: The Anteaters top the Big West Conference and are ranked 16th nationally in field goal percentage at .454.

The Anteaters shot a season-high .513 (40-78) against Bakersfield. The team has only dipped below .400 from the field once this season in the win over Weber State (.390).

MORE NATIONAL STATS: UCI ranks 49th in scoring average (72.6) and 67th in rebound margin (+5.1). The Anteaters rank 327 out of 336 teams in field goal percentage defense (.456).

ANOTHER STRONG SECOND HALF HELPS UCI BEAT SACRAMENTO STATE : For the second consecutive game, UC Irvine took control in the second half and defeated Sacramento State, 81-75 in a non-conference game at the Bren Center last week.

Sacramento State led by 11 (59-48) with 15:30 remaining in the game before UC Irvine out-scored the Hornets, 17-2 to take a 65-61 advantage at 7:47.  Sacramento State closed to 71-69 on a layup by Fantasia Hilliard with 3:54 left, but UCI put the cushion back to six (73-69) on a pair of Kassandra McCalister free throws and a layup by Jazmyne White.  UCI would not relinquish the lead as the Anteaters made 6 of 9 free throws in the last 1:20 to secure the victory.

McCalister led all players with 26 points, going 7-12 from the floor and 10-15 from the free throw line. White recorded her second double-double of the year with 12 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. White also added three steals and a block. Anete Klintsone recorded 12 points, four assists and two steals off the bench.  Methlyn Onogomuho added nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Kiara Belen and Pernilla Hanson each pitched in six points.

BIG WEST STATS:UCI leads the Big West in field goal percentage (.454), rebounding defense (33.7) and rebounding margin (+5.1). The Anteaters rank second in scoring average (72.6) and assists (15.22) and are third in blocked shots (4.33).

The Anteaters are last in the Big West in free throw percentage (.646), field goal defense (.456) and three-point field goal defense (.384).

OFFENSIVE MINDED:The Anteaters are averaging 72.6 points per game after averaging 67.0 points last season. Last year was the highest offensive output since the 1994-95 Anteaters scored 67.3 points per outing.

In the previous two games, UCI scored 88 points versus Santa Clara and 81 against Sacramento State, the second and third most points recorded this season.

Five different players have led the team in scoring this year with four of the players recording 20 or more points. UCI is 3-0 when four players score in double-figures.

UCI has three players scoring in double-figures: Jazmyne White (12.9), Kassandra McCalister (11.3), Methlyn Onogomuho (10.0). UCI gets added scoring from Jasmine Bernard (9.3). Jacquelyn Marshall (8.9) and Anete Klintsone (7.6).

FROM DOWNTOWN: On the year, UCI averages 3.9 three-pointers per game, while opponents hit 6.8. Sophomore Jaquelyn Marshall leads the squad with 10 threes.

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