Box Score Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine could not keep the offensive going in the fourth quarter as UC Santa Barbara pulled away and won 62-43 in a first round game at the Big West Tournament held at the Bren Events Center.
The Anteaters were out-scored 26-9 in the fourth quarter, going 3-19 (15.8%) from the floor.
"That's was our season in a capsule," head coach Doug Oliver reflected. "We always have a quarter that we struggle offensively and it puts pressure on our defense. We were able to make a few shots and change our defenses early which was disruptive and caused them some confusion, but when we couldn't score we had to get back on defense and they became aggressive."
Junior guard Irene Chavez led UCI with 11 points and junior forward Mckenzie Piper collected eight points and eight rebounds. Senior Mokun Fajemisin pulled down a team-best nine rebounds.
The Anteaters shot 25.8% from the floor (17-66) and 9-16 (56.3%) from the free throw line. UCSB shot 24-55 from the field (43.6%) and 14-21 (66.7%) from the line. The Gauchos held a 45-39 advantage in rebounding.
UCSB (12-19) was led by Je Zhe Newton's 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Jasmine Ware scored 14 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Onome Jemerigbe totaled 11 points and six assists.
UCI came out of the gates strong with an 8-3 lead on baskets by Mokun Fajemisin, Raelyn Cheung-Sutton and two by Mckenzie Piper. A layup by Irene Chavez at 5:08 put UCI up seven (12-5) before the Gauchos scored the final seven points of the period to deadlock the score at 12-12 after the first 10 minutes.
Offense was tough to come by for both teams in the second period as the Anteaters would record their first two points by Chavez at 5:10 to remain close, 15-14. UCSB would lead by six (25-19) with 1:00 to play before a free throw by Paulina Santana and another layup by Chavez ended the quarter with the Gauchos leading 25-22.
In the third period, UCI went on an 8-1 run to take a 34-32 advantage at 1:55.The Gauchos would end the quarter with a pair of layups to head in to the fourth period with a slight 36-34 advantage.
UC Santa Barbara would score the first 10 points of the final quarter to build a 44-34 advantage at 7:48. The Anteaters closed to 12 (52-40) on a Tayla Jackson free throw at 4:22. UCSB would score 10 of the next 11 points until Paulina Santana would score the final jumper with 10 seconds on the clock.
UCI ends the season 4-27.
