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Big West Conference Games
UC Irvine at Cal State Northridge · Thrus., Dec. 29 · 4:00 p.m. · Matadome · Northridge, Calif.
Radio: KUCI 88.9 FM or www.ucirvinesports.com/media/listen_live/index
Live Stats: http://www.gomatadors.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/schedule
Video: http://www.fansonly.com/schools/bigw/allaccess/index.html
UC Irvine at Long Beach State · Sat., Dec. 31 · 1:00 p.m. · Walter Pyramid · Long Beach, Calif.
Radio: KUCI 88.9 FM or www.ucirvinesports.com/media/listen_live/index
Live Stats: http://www.longbeachstate.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/lbst-w-baskbl-sched.html
Video: http://www.fansonly.com/schools/bigw/allaccess/index.html
BIG WEST ACTION BEGINS: UC Irvine will begin Big West Conference action, traveling to Cal State Northridge Thursday (Dec. 29) at 4:00 p.m. at the Matadome then to Long Beach State Saturday (Dec. 31) at 1:00 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.
VS. THE MATADORS: UCI leads Cal State Northridge, 20-18 with each team winning on each other's home court last season.
Last year, the Anteaters took the first meeting 59-53 in Northridge. In the last outing at the Bren, the Matadors defeated the Anteaters 82-72. Cal State Northridge shot 70.0 percent (14-20) from the field in the second half and 64.3 percent (27-42) for the game, going 61.1 percent from three-point distance (11-18). The Matadors also shot an impressive 17-18 from the line (.944) overall which included 12-12 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes. UCI shot 34.3 percent (23-67) from the floor and was 5-27 from long range (.185).
The Anteaters have won eight of the last nine outings with the Matadors.
Cal State Northridge is 5-7 overall.
VS LONG BEACH STATE: Long Beach State holds a 48-10 advantage in the series records.
The teams each won on their home court last year with the Anteaters winning 77-59 in Irvine and the Beach taking a 80-79 victory in Long Beach. In the last meeting, a Forty-Niner free throw with 16 seconds on the clock gave Long Beach State the 80-79 victory.
LBSU is 5-8 overall and will entertain UC Riverside before battling the Anteaters.
UCI TABBED SIXTH IN PRESEASON POLL: UCI was picked to finish sixth in the Big West Conference Preseason Media Poll.
The Anteaters were selected sixth after receiving 91 points. Cal Poly claimed the top spot with 200 points and 11 first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara was second with 191 points and 11 first place votes and UC Davis was third after receiving two first place votes and 169 points. UC Riverside was fourth, Cal State Fullerton was fifth, Cal State Northridge was pegged seventh, while Pacific was eighth and Long Beach State was ninth.
UCI finished in fifth place last year with a 7-9 conference record.
HOME SWEET HOME: After four games on the road, UCI returns to the Bren on Jan. 5 hosting Pacific at 7:00 p.m.
BLACK AND BLUE RIVALRY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE: When UCI and Long Beach meet on New Year's Eve there will be points up for grabs in the Black and Blue Rivalry Series presented by Duke's of Huntington Beach.
Currently, the Forty-Niners hold a lead 11-4.
The winner of head-to-head match-ups during Big West play will receive two points for each win. An extra point will be given to the school for any road win.
ANTEATERS DROP TWO LAST WEEK: UCI dropped non-conference games to Northern Colorado (71-56) and Wyoming (51-42) on the road last week.
Senior Kiara Belen had a career-high 17 points in the loss to Northern Colorado, while juniors Jasmine White and Anete Klintsone paced the team versus Wyoming with eight points a piece.
The Anteaters shot a season-low 29.3 percent (17-58) versus the Bears then hit a new low in field goal percentage with a .273 mark (15-55) against the Cowgirls.
BIG WEST STATS:UCI leads the Big West in field goal percentage (.415) and offensive rebound percentage (.392), The Anteaters rank second in rebounding defense (36.6) and are third in steals (10.42), rebounding margin (+0.5) and blocked shots (4.08).
The Anteaters are last in the Big West in free throw percentage (.656), field goal defense (.455) and three-point field goal defense (.378).
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