Box Score Irvine, Calif. – Morgan Mason hit a basket at the buzzer to lift Hawaii to a 55-54 victory over UC Irvine on Think Pink night at the Bren Center Thursday.
UCI's Vanessa Aguilar hit two free throws to put the Anteaters in front 54-53 with 1:27 left. After both teams turned the ball over on charge calls their next possessions, Hawaii missed a shot with 26 seconds on the clock, but Destiny King had a big rebound and the 'Bows called timeout with 20 seconds left. Shawna-Lei Kuehu missed a jumper with six seconds to go then Mason took the rebound and laid it in at the buzzer to give Hawaii the one-point victory.
The Anteaters (12-13, 5-6) were led by Camille Buckley who posted her 12th double-double of the year with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Vanessa Aguilar came off the bench to go 5-11 from the floor, including three three-pointers for 15 points. Senior guard Kelly Meggs knocked down three three-pointers for nine points, while senior forward Jasmine Bernard had eight points. Senior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto added three points, six rebounds and a game-best six assists.
Hawaii out-rebounded UCI 40-31 and were 11-13 (84.6%) at the line, while the Anteaters were 6-11 (54.5%). UCI hit 6 three-pointers, while the 'Bows went 0-11. Hawaii scored 17 points off of 12 Anteater turnovers.
Hawaii (14-10, 8-4) had a trio of players with double-digit scoring led by Morgan Mason recording 14 points followed by Destiny King (11) and Shawna-Lei Kuehu (10). Sydney Haydel had a game-high 11 rebounds. Hawaii was without the services of Kamailah Martin, the team's leading scorer and rebounder due to an injury.
UCI took the early 13-10 lead and continued to hold a 17-14 advantage on a Camille Buckley basket at 9:07. Hawaii took their first lead of the game, 18-17 at 6:45 on a Shawna-Lei Kuehu basket down the paint. Vanessa Aguilar drained a three-pointer on the next possession and the teams remained close until Hawaii out-scored UCI, 8-1 to take a 26-21 lead at 3:44. UCI rallied scoring the next six points to regain a 27-26 lead at 2:21 on a Jasmine Bernard layup. An Anteater turnover was picked up by Morgan Mason and run the length of the court and laid in with five seconds on the clock to give the 'Bows a 28-27 halftime lead.
Hawaii out-scored UCI 10-2 to start the second half, taking a 38-29 advantage at 15:10. The 'Bows scored nine in a row to open a 47-34 gap, the largest lead of the game at 10:47. With Hawaii leading 49-39 at 8:40, UCI went on a 13-2 run which was capped by a Kelly Meggs three-pointer to put the Anteaters on top 52-51 with 2:18 remaining. Kuehu hit a jumper to give Hawaii the 53-52 advantage with 1:50 to play before Aguilar's free throws.
UCI will host Cal State Northridge Saturday (Feb. 22) at 4:00 p.m. in the Bren Center. The game will be broadcast by ESPN3.
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