Box Score Flagstaff, Ariz. – UC Irvine would be out-scored 34-14 in the second half on its way to a 66-35 season opening loss to Northern Arizona at the Rolle Activity Center.
It is the largest margin of defeat for UCI since the Anteaters lost 76-36 at Cal Poly on March 3, 2013. The team scored 14 points in a half in that game as well. It is the fewest points scored in a game since UCI totaled 24 in a loss to UC Davis on Feb. 12, 2009.
Redshirt freshman Brittany Glassow led the Anteaters with nine points and six rebounds. Senior Methlyn Onogomuho added seven points and two steals, while sophomore Shereen Sutherland and Jenny Dee each had four points.
The Anteaters shot 21.3 percent (10-47) from the floor for the game and were out-rebounded, 56-31. In the second half, UCI shot 4-23 from the field and 6-14 from the line. UCI went 1-11 from three-point distance overall.
Brittani Lusain topped NAU with 18 points followed by Erikka Banks with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Raven Anderson recorded 10 points and nine rebounds, while Mariah Willadsen had 10 rebounds in the win. The 'Jacks shot 34.4 percent (20-55) from the field and 21-31 from the free throw line. They also knocked down five three-pointers.
Northern Arizona started the game on an 8-2 run and never trailed again. UCI would score six straight to narrow the deficit to 13-12 at 10:46. The Anteaters could never get ahead watching NAU score five unanswered to build a 27-18 advantage at 4:07 then end the half with the final five points to take a 32-21 lead in to the locker room. The Lumberjack's Brittani Lusain scored 14 of her points in the first 20 minutes.
NAU would score the first six points of the half before Mokun Fajemisin would score at the 18:09 mark. That would be the last time UCI would score until Brittany Glassow would step to the line and hit a free throw at 9:53 to make the score 54-24. After scoring just five points in the first 16 minutes of the second half, UCI would score nine in the last four minutes.
UCI continues on the road, traveling to Grand Canyon University Sunday (Nov. 16) for a 1:00 p.m. PT tip.
