Box Score Irvine, Calif. – The UC Irvine held an advantage in rebounding and at the free throw line in a 77-60 victory over UC Santa Barbara at the Bren Center Thursday.
The Anteaters go to 10-10 overall and 3-3 in the Big West. With the win, UCI has exceeded last year's win total (9-21). The Anteaters also remain undefeated at home with a 5-0 record. UCSB drops to 6-13 on the year and 1-5 in the league. The 17-point victory was the largest over a Big West opponent this season.
UCI's starting lineup scored 65 of the Anteaters' 77 points and was led by senior forward Camille Buckley who recorded her eighth double-double of the year with a game-high 27 points and game-high 15 rebounds. Buckley shot 7-12 from the floor and 13-15 from the free throw line. Senior forward Lauren Spinazze recorded a career-high 12 points and a career-best nine rebounds, while junior forward Methlyn Onogomuho had 11 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto added nine points and a career-high eight assists and Kelly Meggs had six points to round out the starting five. Off the bench, senior forward Jasmine Bernard totaled nine points, four rebounds, three assists and a block and junior guard Madison McKenney added three points and a steal.
Getting to the free throw line was a major factor in the game as UCI made 26-33 (78.8) and UCSB was just 6-10 (.600). It was the second most made and attempted from the free throw line this year for UCI. The Anteaters also used a 43-28 advantage on the glass with 29 of UCI's boards coming on the defensive end.
The Anteaters shot 43.6 percent from the floor (24-55) and just 15.8 percent from long range (3-19). UCI was hot in the second half, shooting 48.1 percent (13-27) from the floor. The Gauchos shot 42.4 percent from the field (25-59) and 26.7 percent from three-point distance (4-15) overall.
UC Santa Barbara was led by Nicole Nesbit and Melissa Zorning with 12 points each. Destini Mason added 10 points, while Clair Watkins had eight points and a team-high six rebounds.
The game was tied eight times before UCI had a free throw by Jennifer Tsurumoto, a basket by Jasmine Bernard and two more free throws by Camille Buckley to give UCI 30-25 lead at 4:15. UCSB would record the next four then UCI would out-score the Gauchos 8-1 to go into halftime with a 38-30 advantage.
The Anteaters would score the first 10 points of the half, six of which were by Lauren Spinazze, to extend the lead to 48-30 on a layup by Methlyn Onogomuho at 16:33. After a six minute drought that extended from the first half, UCSB would score a basket at 15:54 by Clair Watkins to stop the Anteater run. The Gauchos would get as close as 13, three times, the last on a Nicole Nesbit jumper at 5:03, but UCI would score six straight to push the lead back to 19 (75-56) with 2:54 remaining.
UCI will entertain league-leading Cal Poly Saturday (Feb. 1) at 2:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.
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