Box Score Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine guard Jennifer Tsurumoto had a career-high 27 points to help UC Irvine topple Hawaii 64-52 at the Bren Events Center Saturday.
UCI picks up its second Big West victory (2-9) and go to 6-17 overall. Hawaii is 11-11 on the year and 7-4 in the Big West.
Tsurumoto went 7-13 from the floor, including hitting three three-pointers and 10-12 from the free throw line. The junior also recorded four assists, a block and steal in 37 minutes of action. Junior guard Kelly Meggs added 12 points, while junior forward Camille Buckley had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Methlyn Onogomuho pitched in six points and three steals and Pernilla Hanson and Lauren Spinazze each had three points in the win. Jasmine Bernard added two points and Mokun Fajemisin had five rebounds.
The Anteaters shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half (12-20) and ended the night 42.9 percent (21-49) overall. UCI hit eight three-pointers, while Hawaii went 4-20 from long range. The Rainbow Wahine shot 31 percent (18-58) from the field and 70.6 percent (12-17) from the line. Hawaii out-rebounded UCI, 42-33.
Hawaii's Kamilah Martin recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 19 rebounds, scoring 10 of her points and grabbing 12 of her boards in the second half. Monica DeAngelis had eight points and Vicky Tagalicod and Destiny King each recorded seven points.
With the score tied 9-9 in the first half, UCI used a three-pointer by Jennifer Tsurumoto followed by baskets by Methlyn Onogomuho and Camille Buckley and another three by Tsurumoto to open a 19-9 lead at 7:34. The Anteaters would continue to lead by 10 (22-12) before Hawaii closed out the half out-scoring UCI 6-2 for the 24-18 halftime score.
UCI held a 39-24 lead at 13:08 before committing four consecutive turnovers which led to 10 straight Hawaii points to let the Rainbow Wahine creep back in 39-34 with 9:40 remaining. The Anteaters responded going on a 13-2 run which included nine points by Tsurmoto to push the Anteater lead back to 52-36 with 5:06 left. Hawaii would get as close as eight (55-47) on a three-pointer by Marissa Wimbley at 1:21, but UCI would score the next five to improve the margin to 60-47 with 33 second to go.
Next Thursday (Feb. 14), UC Irvine will travel to UC Riverside for a 7:00 p.m. game at the Student Recreation Center.
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