Box Score Irvine, Calif. – The UC Irvine out-lasted Cal State Fullerton, 43-39 at the Bren Events Center Saturday.
UCI (8-17, 4-9) records its third straight victory and fourth in the last five games. The Titans fall to 7-17 on the year and 3-9 in the Big West.
UCI held the Titans to 39 points, which were the fewest points scored by an opponent this year. The Anteaters shot 78.9 percent (15-19) from the free throw line, the second best performance from the stripe this season.
Junior guard Kelly Meggs led UCI with 12 points, scoring 10 points in the first half as well as the Anteaters' final two points from the free throw line with 19 seconds left in the game. She hit UCI's only two three-pointers and went 4-4 from the free throw line for the game. Sophomore forward Methlyn Onogomuho added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, while junior forward Camille Buckley led all players with 13 rebounds to go with six points. Freshman forward Mokun Fajemisin recorded six points and six rebounds and senior forward Pernilla Hanson came off the bench to total five points and three steals.
Cal State Fullerton was led by Chante Miles with nine points followed by Alex Thomas with eight points and seven rebounds. Kathleen Iwuoha grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds.
In the first half, Cal State Fullerton went on an 11-0 run, which included three consecutive three-pointers to open an 18-6 lead at 9:13. UCI would then go on a 21-5 spurt, which included 10 points from Kelly Meggs, to end the half with a 27-23 advantage.
Both teams struggled offensively to start the second stanza scoring just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of the half. The Anteaters continued to lead by five (37-32) with 8:15 remaining before the Titans used a layup by Tailer Butler and a rebound put-back by Alex Thomas plus a free throw and a layup after a steal by Chante Miles with 2:19 left to put Cal State Fullerton ahead for the first time in the second half, 39-37. The lead was short lived as CSF would not score again and the Anteaters would get jumpers by Camille Buckley and Methlyn Onogomuho to regain the lead, 41-39 with 53 seconds remaining. Two Meggs' free throws at 19 seconds secured the victory for UCI, 43-39.
UCI will entertain Long Beach State Thursday (Feb. 21) at 7:00 p.m. at the Bren Center. The game is part of the Black & Blue Rivalry Series presented by Duke's of Huntington Beach.
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