Box Score Irvine, Calif. -- Mokun Fajemisin's career-high 21st point clinched UC Irvine's 76-72 overtime victory against UC Riverside at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon.
Fajemisin recorded four points in the overtime period including a pair of free throws after rebounding a missed Highlander attempt and getting fouled with four seconds remaining. The forward had her league leading seventh double-double of the year with a career-high 21 points and game-high 13 rebounds. She went 6-15 from the floor and 9-10 from the free throw line for the game.
UCI had three other players in double-digit scoring, including Raelyn Cheung-Sutton's career-high 13 points on 5-10 shooting from the floor. Shereen Sutherland scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Methlyn Onogomuho had 10 points and seven boards. Tierra Hicks sparked UCI off the bench in the second half with nine points before fouling out. Brittany Glassow totaled nine points and eight rebounds and Irene Chavez rounded out the scoring with three points.
The Anteaters shot 66.7 percent (4-6) in the extra period and 39.4 percent for the game (26-66). UCI went 23-31 from the line (74.2%) and out-rebounded the Highlanders 48-38. UCR went 28-64 from the field (43.8%) and 13-22 (59.1%) from the line overall. Each team struggled from long distance with Riverside going 3-18 and Irvine hitting 1-8.
UC Riverside was led by Annelise Ito with a game-high 22 points and team-best 12 rebounds. The league's top scorer Brittay Crain was held under her average with 19 points. Michelle Curry added 12 points and seven rebounds and Simone DeCould pitched in 11 points.
A pair of Mokun Fajemisin free throws brought UCI within 21-20 with 2:58 to play in the first half, but UC Riverside would rattle of nine straight to extend the lead 30-20 at 1:02.
The Highlanders would take a 32-22 lead in to the half and score the first five points of the second stanza to build a 15-point advantage, 37-22 (19:24).
UCR continued to lead 49-39 at 9:32 before UCI began to rally on an 11-2 run which was sparked by Tierra Hicks aggressive play and capped by one of her layups at 6:27 to narrow the margin to one (51-50). A three-pointer by Hicks tied the score and a jumper by Methlyn Onogomuho put the Anteaters on top, 61-59 with 1:47 to play. A jumper by UCR's Simone DeCoud knotted the game for the third time before Raelyn Cheung-Sutton knocked down two free throws with 10 seconds left in regulation to give UCI the 63-61 advantage. On the final play, DeCoud missed a layup, but Dynese Adams grabbed the offensive rebounded and put the ball back with three seconds on the clock to send the game in to overtime, 63-63.
In the extra period, the teams would be tied four times, the last with 59 seconds remaining (72-72). UCI would miss their next two attempts but retained possession and Methlyn Onogomuho hit the eventual game winner with seven seconds left before Fajemisin sealed the victory with the two free throws.
The Anteaters pick up an important Big West win (2-8) and go to 5-20 overall. UC Riverside is now 15-10 on the year and 6-5 in the Big West.
UCI will go on the road next week, traveling to Hawaii Thursday and CSUN Saturday.
