Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah dominated the paint on its way to a 58-42 victory over UC Irvine at the Huntsman Center Thursday.

The Utes scored 30 of its 58 points down low and also out-rebounded UCI 56-24.

Utah improves to 9-1 overall while UCI goes to 3-8 on the year. UCI's 42 points is the fewest points scored by the Anteaters since a 51-42 loss at Wyoming on Dec. 21, 2011.

Utah scored 10 straight points to jump out to a 12-2 lead with 16:09 remaining in the first half. UCI went on a 9-2 run which was capped by four points by Camille Buckley to close the margin to 23-20 at 6:08. Utah would then score the final nine points to take a 32-20 lead into halftime.

Following the six minute draught to end the first half, UCI only managed only a free throw by Kelly Meggs and Pernilla Hanson until Meggs hit a layup with 11:46 remaining, but Utah had built a 44-24 lead.  The Anteaters would get no closer than 14 points the rest of the game.

Senior guard Anete Klintsone scored all eight of her team-high points in the second half. Klintsone also had a team-best four assists. Junior guard Kelly Meggs and freshman forward Mokun Fajemisin each added six points, with Meggs and sophomore forward Methlyn Onogomuho grabbing a team-high four rebounds. Senior forward Cheyenne Cathey recorded five points.

UCI shot a season-low 23.3 percent (14-60) from the field with five of the baskets coming from three-point distance. UCI had a season-low five turnovers.

After shooting 48.1 percent (13-27) from the floor in the first half, Utah finished the game shooting 42.9 percent (21-49) overall. The Utes had seven blocks, but committed 20 turnovers.

Utah's Taryn Wicijowski lead all players with 16 points followed by Michelle Plouffe with 15 points. Iwalani Rodrigues had a game-high 15 rebounds, including 14 on the defensive glass.

UCI will return to action traveling to CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 28 for a 7:00 p.m. game in the Icardo Center.

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