Box Score Seattle, Wash. – Washington outlasted UC Irvine 72-69 in a non-conference game at the Alaska Airline Arena Monday.
The Anteaters (6-7) were led by senior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto with 17 points, shooting 6-12 from the floor including four three-pointers. Junior guard Madison McKenney came off the bench to go 5-10 from the field for 10 points. Senior Lauren Spinazze tied her season-high with nine points to go with a season-best six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Methlyn Onogomuho added nine points followed by six points from Jazmyne White, Camille Buckley, Kelly Meggs and Jasmine Bernard. White had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Anteaters (36.7%) out-shot the Huskies (36.4%) from the floor, but UCI was just 2-4 from the line, while Washington was 10-15. Both teams grabbed 48 rebounds. Washington had nine blocked shots and 14 three-pointers.
Washington, who improves to 7-4 overall, was led by Kelsey Plum with a game-high 25 points. The freshman went 7-16 from the floor, including 6-11 from beyond the arc. Jazmine Davis had 15 points and Talia Walton recorded 14 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks. Mercedes Wetmore added 11 points.
Jennifer Tsurumoto hit three three-pointers and Madison Mckenney would knock down a jumper to give UCI an early 11-5 lead but the Huskies would record three consecutive baskets from long distance to go ahead 14-11 with 13:55 to play in the first half. Washington would go on a 10-0 run to open a 31-19 lead on a Talia Walton three-pointer at 7:55. Following another Husky three-pointer, UCI would score six straight down low on baskets by Jazmyne White and Camille Buckley to narrow the margin to 34-29 at 3:34. Washington would out-score the Anteaters 6-1 to take a 40-30 lead at the break.
With Washington leading 53-43, UCI would score seven in a row to cut the lead to 55-50 on a streaking Onogomuho layup with 13:20 to play. Kelsey Plum would hit back-to-back threes to extend the lead back to 60-50 at 11:24. A Kelly Meggs three-pointer at 3:13 closed the gap to 67-65, but Mercedes Whitmore would record the Huskies' 14th three-pointer (70-65) at 2:46. Two layups by Tsurumoto, the last with 17.1 remaining, brought the score to 70-69. A Washington missed free throw preceded a Tsurumoto shot that came up short and the Huskies grabbed the rebound and UCI was forced to foul Plum who missed the front end of a one-and one. Walton had a huge offensive rebound and put back to give Washington a 72-69 advantage with 3.5 left. A three-pointer by Meggs at the buzzer rattled out to end the game.
UCI will begin 2014 at home hosting La Verne Thursday (Jan. 2) beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Bren Center. The UCI men will entertain Morgan State following the women's game.
