Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine scored the last 10 points of the game to comeback and defeat Santa Clara, 88-82 in a non-conference game Saturday at the Bren Center.
UC Irvine goes to 3-5 overall and snaps Santa Clara's (6-2) five-game winning streak. UCI is the first Big West school to beat the Broncos (1-3).
Kassandra McCalister led four UCI players in double-figure points with 19 points. She tied her career-high with nine assists, which is the most by a Big West player this season. She scored all 19 of her points in the second half, going 5-8 from the floor and 9-11 from the free throw line. Sophomore Jasmine Bernard posted 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Jazmyne White had 14 points and six rebounds. Freshman forward Methlyn Onogomuho added 13 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Anete Klintsone totaled nine points, three assists and two steals. Guard Kelly Meggs recorded six points, forward Jacquelyn Marshall had five points and forward Pernilla Hanson recorded four points. Senior Kiara Belen added two points.
UCI shot 49.2 percent (30-61) from the floor for the game and 53.3 percent (16-30) in the second half. Santa Clara hit 31-58 (.534) from the field for the game and was 6-17 from three-point range. The Anteaters were 24-32 (.774) from the line, while the Broncos were 14-16 (.875). UCI recorded 18 points off of 25 Bronco turnovers.
Santa Clara's Ruta Zurauskyte was 12-17 from the floor and 9-9 from the free throw line for a game and career-high 33 points. She also tied her career-high with a game-high 13 rebounds. Alyssa Shoji totaled 22 points followed by Meagan Fulps with 13 points.
Santa Clara shot 65.4 percent (17-26) from the floor in the first half and held a 43-38 lead at intermission. UCI's Jacqui Marshall hit a three-point to narrow the Santa Clara lead to 28-26 with 6:05 remaining in the half before the Broncos scored seven straight to open its largest lead, 35-26, at 4:34. The Anteaters would get within five four times, including the halftime score on a basket by Kelly Meggs.
After Ruta Zurauskyte scored the first two points of the second half, UCI scored six unanswered to narrow the gap to 45-44 at 18:20. The Broncos would outscore the Anteaters, 9-2 to open a 54-46 cushion with 15:46 remaining. Santa Clara continued to lead 71-67 at 7:58 when UCI scored six straight on a Pernilla Hanson three-pointer which was followed by a layup and free throw by Kassandra McCalister to take the lead 73-71 with 7:08 to go. Santa Clara would regain the advantage and were up 82-78 with 2:55 to play. UCI would hold the Broncos scoreless and record the last 10 points of the game for the 88-82 victory. UCI's final 10 points came from two free throws by Methlyn Ogonomuho, baskets by Jasmine White and Jasmine Bernard and four free throws by McCalister to secure the win. McCalister also stole a pass with 1:01 on the clock and the Anteaters up by two, which resulted in the first of her four free throws.
UCI will return to action next Sunday (Dec. 11) hosting Sacramento State at 1:00 p.m.
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