Box Score Los Angeles, Calif. – UC Irvine's Madison McKenney hit a shot in the paint with one second left in regulation to send the game in to overtime, but UAB won the extra period and defeated the Anteaters 69-65 in the consolation game of the DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Classic at Gersten Pavilion Saturday.
UCI (1-6) was led by senior Methlyn Onogomuho who tied her career-high with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Onogomuho was named to the all-tournament team for her effort. Mckenney added 13 points, while Mokun Fajemisin recorded 12 points and Brittany Glassow posted a career-best 10 rebounds.
Jenae Smith led UAB (3-2) with a game-high 28 points. Dy'Man Webb had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Janeka Williams added 11 points.
Following an early tie, UCI controlled the first half leading by 10 on two occasions, the last (26-16) on a Brittany Glassow basket down low at 6:22. UAB scored seven straight to tighten the lead to 26-23 at 3:52. The Anteaters responded scoring the next five, only to watch UAB's Dy'man Webb score the final six points of the half. The Anteaters would go in to the locker room with a 31-29 advantage, the first time this season UCI has held a lead at the break.
A rebound put-back by Methlyn Onogomuho gave UCI a 42-34 lead with 12:00 remaining. UAB's Jenae Smith then took over, scoring 10 of the Blazers next 13 points to narrow the Anteater lead to 48-47 at 5:14. UAB would take its lead of the game (49-48) on a Bianca Dufelmeier steal and layup with 3:40 left. Another basket by Dufelmeier and Smith gave the Blazers their largest lead, 53-50 before Madison McKenney knocked down a three-pointer to tie the contest at 53-53 with 2:02 to play. After a layin by Janeka Williams, Onogomuho hit the first of two free throws with Sutherland grabbing the rebound on the miss and putting it back to give the Anteaters the 56-55 lead (.55). Smith was fouled but due to an injury, Miranda Burroughs came off the bench to shoot the free throws making both, 57-56, with 38 seconds to go. Following a free throw by Webb, UCI's Madison McKenney would spin in the lane and lay in the ball with one second to send the game in to overtime, 58-58.
UAB scored the first five points of the extra period and would go on to out-score UCI 11-7. Onogomuho had a layup with nine seconds remaining to close within 65-63, but UCI had to foul and Chelsee Black made a pair of free throws. McKenney would drive in for a layup with four seconds on the clock, but Williams would make both free throws to close out the win. The Blazers were a perfect 6-6 from the line in overtime.
UCI will travel to Bakersfield Wednesday (Dec. 3) for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
