Box Score Riverside, Calif. -- UC Irvine could not hold on to a second half lead and dropped a 71-58 contest to UC Riverside at the SRC Arena Saturday.
UCI was out-scored 22-7 in the final eight minutes to fall to 3-14 overall and 0-2 in the Big West. UC Riverside improves to 10-6 on the year and 1-1 in league action.
Sophomore guard Irene Chavez knocked down four three-pointers and led UCI with 19 points. Sophomore forward Brittany Glassow posted a career-high 15 rebounds to go with seven points. Sophomore forward Mokun Fajemisin reorded 13 points and six rebounds, while Madison McKenney had seven points.
UCI out-rebounded UCR 39-27, but committed 23 turnovers to the Highlanders 13. UCR recorded 15 steals and hit nine three-pointers.
UC Riverside had four players in double-figure points led by the Big West leading scorer Brittany Crain with 31. Akilah Martin had 14 points followed by Dynese Adams (13) and Jaelyn Wilson (12).
After UCI led by five (10-5) on a jumper by Ashley Merrill, UCR would go on a 15-4 run, which included three three-pointers, to open a 20-14 advantage with 6:48 to go in the first half. The Highlanders would lead by as many as 11, before UCI closed out the half on a 5-0 run to get within 33-27 at the break.
Irene Chavez scored 12 points to ignite a UCI comeback and Methlyn Onogomuho scored her first basket of the night to give UCI the 47-46 lead at 9:56. With UCI leading 51-49, UCR would rattle off the next 11 points to take a 65-54 advantage with 2:28 to play. UCI would be forced to foul and the Highlanders would go 6-8 from the line in the final 1:44.
UCI will return home to host cross-county rival Cal State Fullerton Thursday (Jan. 15) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.
