Box Score Reno, Nev. -- The UC Irvine bench stepped up in an 86-72 victory over Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center Sunday.
"I liked the way we were able to sustain our composure when they made a run at us," head coach Doug Oliver said. "We got tremendous contributions from the bench tonight and I think this was the best basketball we played at both ends of the floor in my tenure here and I'm proud of the team."
UCI scored 44 of its 86 points off the bench led by sophomore Mokun Fajemisin who posted a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Anteaters. Senior Jennifer Tsurumoto also added 19 points and five assists, while senior Camille Buckley recorded 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. UCI also got contributions off the bench from Vanessa Aguilar with a career-high 13 points and six points each from Jasmine Bernard and Madison McKenney.
The Anteaters out-rebounded Nevada 56-46 and had eight steals to UN's 5. UCI shot 38 percent (30-79) from the field and 90.5 percent (19-21) from the line. The Anteaters hit seven three-pointers.
Danika Sharpe hit six three-pointers and led all players with 20 points. Mimi Mungedi, who stands 6-8, totaled 17 points, while Arielle Wideman had nine points and nine rebounds. Emily Burns had a team-high 13 rebounds and four blocks to go with six points.
he Wolf Pack shot 36.2 percent (25-69) from the floor and 63.6 (14-22)from the free throw stripe (14-22). Nevada drained eight three-pointers and had 20 assists and five blocks.
Jennifer Tsurumoto hit a three-pointer to open the game and give UCI a 3-2 lead before Nevada controlled the action going up by 10 (32-22) at 6:50. UCI would go on a 12-4 , the last a three-pointer by Vanessa Aguilar at 4:04, to tie the game at 34-34. A pair of free throws by Nevada's Mimi Mungedi was followed by a basket by Mokun Fajemisin and two jumpers by Madison McKenney to give the Anteaters a 40-35 lead at 1:53. Two more Wolf Pack free throws proceded six straight points from Fajemisin to put UCI ahead 45-37 with 40 seconds left. Nevada would add a pair of free throws to end the half with the Anteaters leading 45-39.
In the second half, Nevada would go on a 8-2 run to close within 64-61 at 10:50, but UCI would score 11 of the next 15 points to extend the lead back to 10 (75-65) with 6:30 to play. Camille Buckely took over the second half recording 15 points and 14 rebounds in 14 minutes of action. The Anteaters, who would score 17 second chance points in the final 20 minutes, would go 15-17 from the free throw line in the second half.
The Anteaters started 2-1 for the first time since the 2002-03 season when the club began the year with a 5-1 record. Nevada suffers its first loss of the season (2-1).
UCI remains on the road next week, traveling to Denver Thursday (Nov. 21) and Idaho on Saturday (Nov. 23).
