Box Score

Irvine, Calif. – For the first time this season UC Irvine had five players record double-digit points as the Anteaters beat Concordia 78-72 in the final regular season non-conference game at the Bren Events Center Sunday.

UCI's Methlyn Onogomuho recorded her eighth career double-double with a career-tying 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The senior went 7-17 from the floor and 6-9 from the line in 39 minutes of action. The forward also had a game-high three steals.

Sophomore guard Irene Chavez totaled 12 points, while sophomore forward Shereen Sutherland and senior guard Madison McKenney added 11 points and sophomore forward Mokun Fajemisin totaled 10 points. Sophomore forward Chloe Kellum grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in 12 minutes. Brittany Glassow totaled six points and six rebounds and Ashley Merrill recorded six points in seven minutes off the bench.

It is the first win at home this season for the Anteaters who go to 3-12 overall. All three wins have come on Sundays. UCI snaps Concordia's five game winning streak as the Eagles are 9-3 on the season.

The teams combined for 60 fouls and 80 free throw attempts. UCI scored 15 points off of 17 Concordia turnovers and recorded 21 points on second chances.

The Anteaters shot just 29.3 percent (22-75) from the floor, but were 33-42 (78.6%) from the free throw line. Concordia shot 37.9 percent from the field (22-58) and went 22-38 from the line (57.9%). 

The Eagles were led by Janis Peterson's game-high 27 points off the bench. September Offutt had 12 points and nine rebounds and Brittany Stafford recorded a game-best 16 rebounds to go with nine points.

In a closely contested first half, UCI used a 12-0 run to open a 28-21 gap at 3:54. Concordia closed to one (33-32) with1:08 to play before UCI ended on a 5-1 spurt to take a 38-33 lead at halftime.

UCI led by as many as 11 on two occasions in the second half only to watch Concordia narrow the lead to 71-69 with 3:09 remaining. UCI responded with a free throw and basket by Shereen Sutherland to go up 74-69 at 2:30.  A Concordia basket by Janis Peterson was followed by a missed attempt by the Anteaters, but Onogomuho intercepted a pass and drove the length of the court for a layup with 37 seconds left (76-71). Concordia's September Offutt made the second of two free throws with 21 seconds to play then Madison McKenney found Onogomuho alone under the basket at seven seconds for the final points of the game 78-72.

UCI will open the Big West schedule Thursday (Jan. 8) at Long Beach State beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.

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