Box Score Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine out-scored Nevada 6-2 in the final minute of the game to capture a 68-64 victory at the Bren Events Center Sunday afternoon.
The Anteaters, who snapped a four-game losing skid, go to 2-5 overall, while Nevada drops to 0-8.
UCI shot a season-high 44 percent from the floor (28-63) and went 10-16 from the free throw line. The Wolf Pack struggled from the charity stripe, hitting 12-25 (.480) and was 24-60 (.400) from the field overall. The Anteaters fired 15 assists and only committed seven turnovers in the win.
Forward Shereen Sutherland led UCI with her first career double-double, notching a season-high 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Sutherland was 7-10 from the field and 3-4 from the line with one block in 28 minutes of action.
Raelyn Cheung-Sutton, who entered the game ranked 15th in the nation in assists per game, matched her career-high with 12 assists to go with 12 points and three steals. Her 12 assists are the most by a Big West player this season. Guard Irene Chavez came off the bench to add 12 points, while guard Paulina Santana had a career-high 10 points in her second career start. Forward Mokun Fajemisin led all players with a season-high 13 rebounds. She also had six points and four blocks. Mckenizie Piper pitched in eight points.
Stephanie Schmid led Nevada with 15 points followed by Riana Everidge (14) and AJ Cephas (10). Nyasha Lesure had a team-best 11 rebounds.
After the teams were tied 18-18 at the end of the first quarter, Irene Chavez scored the first five points for the Anteaters to give UCI the 23-20 lead at 8:01 of the second period. The Anteaters would use back-to-back baskets by Mckenzie Piper to open a seven point advantage (33-26) with 2:32 to go until the half. UCI would hold a 35-30 lead at intermission.
Nevada would never get ahead by more than six points, but out-scored UCI 20-10 in the third quarter to hold a 50-45 lead. In the fourth quarter, the game would be tied for the sixth time with 2:33 left on the clock before Sutherland would record a basket then have a block on the defensive end of the floor prior to hitting the first of two free throws to give UCI a 65-62 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Stephanie Schmid would score on a layup for Nevada (65-64) with four seconds and the Wolf Pack would immediate foul Mckenzie Piper who hit one of two free throws to give the Anteaters a 66-64 lead. Mokun Fajemisin stole the ball on the next Nevada possession and dished it to Irene Chavez who was fouled and ended the game making a pair of free throws.
UCI will take final examinations this week and return to action next Saturday (Dec. 12) at 2:00 p.m. against San Diego Christian.
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