Bakersfield, Calif. – UC Irvine forwards Camille Buckley and Methlyn Onogomuho were active down low as the Anteaters defeated CSU Bakersfield, 66-52 at the Icardo Center Friday.
Buckley recorded her third double-double of the year with a career-high 19 points and 15 rebounds, scoring 17 of her team-best points in the second half. Onogomuho had her first double-double of the year and second of her career with a season-high 12 points and career-best 11 rebounds. Guard Jennifer Tsurumoto had 15 points, three assists and two steals in 38 minutes, while guard Anete Klintsone recorded five points and Mokun Fajemisin and Kelly Meggs added four points apiece.
The Anteaters shot 40.4 percent (23-57) from the floor and 76.2 (16-21) from the free throw line. UCI out-rebounded Bakersfield 47-33. The Roadrunners shot 33.3 (21-63) from the field for the game and just 27.6 (8-29) in the second half. UCI scored 22 points on second chance possessions.
Bakersfield was led by Tyonna Outland with 14 points followed by Cebrina Johnson with 12 points. Amber Williams added 10 points, two assists and two steals.
The teams were never more than five points apart in the first half as UCI held a 29-24 lead on a pair of Mokun Fajemisin free throws with 3:04. Bakersfield's Tyonna Outland would score all six Bakersfield's final points in a 6-2 run to give the Radrunners a 32-31 lead at intermission.
In the second half, UCI would go on a 10-0 run, the final four points scored by Methlyn Onogomuho, to take a 43-37 lead at 14:49. Bakersfield would out-score UCI, 9-3 to tie the game at 46-46 with 10:16 remaining on an Amber Williams basket. The Anteaters would score the next eight points on a Jennifer Tsurumoto three-pointer, a layup by Methlyn Onogomuho and jumper by Camille Buckley for a 53-46 advantage at 7:17. UCI would out-score Bakersfield 20-6 in the final 10:16 to secure the victory.
The win snaps a seven game losing streak against Bakersfield as UCI goes to 4-8 overall. CS Bakersfield is 2-13 overall.
The Anteaters open Big West play hosting UC Santa Barbara Jan. 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.
