PORTLAND, Ore. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team rallied to cut a 10-point deficit down to two in the final minutes but the Anteaters' comeback effort fell just short in a 79-73 loss at Portland State Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings seemed to be in control as they were up 75-65 with 1:45 left in the game, but senior Irene Chavez and sophomore Andee Ritter quickly hit back-to-back threes. After another stop on the defensive end, senior Shereen Sutherland got the bucket and foul to make it 75-73 with 28 seconds left. Sutherland then missed the free throw and PSU was able to hold on for the victory by going 4-of-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch.
Sutherland led the 'Eaters with her first double-double of the season and second of her career. She finished with a game-high tying 20 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Sabrina Engelstad added a season-high 16 points for her sixth consecutive double-figure scoring game. Chavez also tied her career best with five threes made for 15 points.
UCI (1-7) compiled a season-high 18 assists to go along with 11 steals, but also committed 18 turnovers. It shot 41.1 percent from the field, while PSU posted a 49.1 field goal percentage.
UC Irvine got off to a slow start with Engelstad getting the 'Eaters on the board with a layup at the 7:18 mark. Portland State would pull ahead, 9-4, before a couple of free throws from senior Chloe Kellum and a Ritter jumper cut the deficit to 9-8 with 1:50 remaining. The Vikings stayed out front and hit a 3-pointer toward the end of the first quarter for a 14-10 lead.
The second period was a game of runs with PSU taking the first one to go on top, 20-12, at the 9:07 mark. The Anteaters responded with a 5-0 spurt, capped by a Kellum jumper to make it 20-17 with 8:12 to play. The home team then came right back with a 9-2 run for a 29-19 cushion. UC Irvine would pull back within five on a three from Chavez and stayed right with the Vikings, as it trailed 37-30 at intermission.
Portland State (3-3) extended its lead to 11 early in the third frame but Engelstad and sophomore Arianna Knox combined to score the next six points to close the gap to 43-38 with 6:35 to play. That was the closest the 'Eaters would get in the quarter, however, as the Vikings pushed their advantage to 57-44 at the end of three.
The Viks led by as many as 15 in the fourth and were up by 10 with less than two minutes to go before UCI's furious rally.
Ashley Bolston and Michaela Kay led Portland State with 20 points each. Kay had 17 points as she went 5-for-7 from behind the arc in the first half, but the 'Eaters made the adjustments at the break as she scored only three points in the final 20 minutes.
UC Irvine will now return to the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center where it will open a seven-game homestand against Sacramento State on Saturday, Dec. 10.
NOTES: Andee Ritter extended her streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to eight and has a team-high 19 on the season … Sabrina Engelstad has six-straight double-figure scoring games, while Shereen Sutherland has three … Sutherland notched the 'Eaters second double-double of the year … UCI set a season-high in points for the second time in as many games … The Anteaters' 29 points in the fourth were also the most in a quarter in program history ... UC Irvine had six turnovers in the first quarter, matching its total number of miscues in its win at Nevada on Thursday.
