Box Score Irvine, Calif. – Camille Buckley pulled down a school record 26 rebounds but it was not enough as Cal Poly held off the Anteaters 84-79 at the Bren Center Thursday.
Buckley grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds to break the school record of 23 previously held by Jinelle Williams in 1994. The senior forward was one shy of the Big West record of 27 and is tied with Norfolk State's Rachel Gordon (vs. Texas Pan American 11/29/13) for most rebounds in the country this season. Buckley also recorded a team-high 19 points in 33 minutes of action for her ninth double-double of the year.
UCI had good production off the bench with senior guard Vanessa Aguilar recording 16 points, including four three-pointers in 19 minutes and senior forward Jasmine Bernard adding 15 points, two blocks and eight caroms, which tied her season-high in rebounds. Senior guard Kelly Meggs totaled nine points, while junior forward Methlyn Onogomuho had six points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto recorded seven points and six assists and senior forward Laurenn Spinazze had seven rebounds
Cal Poly shot 50.8 percent from the field (31-61), while the Anteaters were 34.9 percent (30-86) from the floor. UCI outrebounded the Mustangs 58-37, a season-high in rebounds for the Anteaters.
Cal Poly was led by Molly Schlemer with a game-high 31 points and Ariana Elegado with 21 points and 13 assists. Kristen Ale chipped in 15 points and Nwamaka Ofodu had 10 points in the win.
The lead was never more than six in the first half and was tied for the sixth time 34-34 on a Jasmine Bernard free throw at 44 seconds. Ariana Elegado drove the length of the court and laid it in with 15 seconds to give Cal Poly a 36-34 advantage at halftime.
Cal Poly created some separation in the second half, scoring six unanswered to go up 51-43 with 13:43 left in the game. The Mustangs continued to lead 78-69 with 1:08 remaining before Kelly Meggs scored seven points for UCI to Cal Poly's three free throws by Elegado to narrow the Anteater deficit to 81-76 with 34 seconds to go. Vanessa Aguilar would drain a three to cut the lead to 81-79 with 15 seconds left before Elegado went to the free throw line again, making the first (82-79) and then missing the second which was rebounded by Camille Buckley. With the guards covered, Buckley pushed the ball up the court and her pass to the wing was intercepted by Kristen Ale with five seconds on the clock. Ale was quickly fouled and made two free throws to end the scoring.
UCI goes to 10-11 overall and 3-4 in the Big West, while Cal Poly is 13-8 overall and leads the league at 7-1.
UCI will battle Long Beach State next Thursday (Feb. 6) at 4:30 p.m. at the Bren Center. The game is a double-header with the men taking on the Forty-Niners at 7:30 p.m.
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