HONOLULU, Hawaii – The UC Irvine women's basketball team tied a single-game school record with 12 3-pointers, but dropped a 79-62 decision to Hawai'i Thursday evening at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Anteaters hit 12 triples for the first time since 2003, while the original record was set in 2002.
Sophomore Andee Ritter led the way with five threes and a game-high 19 points. It was her sixth game with at least five treys. Senior Mckenzie Piper also went 6-for-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from long distance for a season-best 15 points. Senior Shereen Sutherland added 10 points and seven rebounds, while junior Sydney Hua dished out a season-high five assists.
UCI (3-17, 1-5 Big West) shot 32.8 percent from the floor, 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
Both teams got off to a slow start as they went a combined 0-for-11 with five turnovers before Hawai'i sank a pair of free throws at the 6:10 mark. The Rainbow Wahine proceeded to go up, 7-0, before a Ritter jumper got UC Irvine on the board with 4:42 to play. The 'Eaters continued to chip away and a 3-pointer from Ritter with 13 seconds on the clock cut the deficit to 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Piper opened the second period with back-to-back buckets to tie it up at 15-15 with 8:54 to go. The two teams then traded points over the next minute before the 'Bows hit consecutive threes to pull ahead, 23-17. UCI stayed within striking distance until UH closed out the half on a 10-0 run to carry a 37-22 advantage into the locker room.
Hawai'i (7-11, 3-3 Big West) kept the momentum early in the third frame, extending its lead to 43-22. Senior Irene Chavez then ended a six-minute scoring drought, which started before the break, with a 3-pointer at the 7:46 mark. The home team remained in control until the Anteaters made a quick push as a traditional three-point play from junior Teirra Hicks, followed by a Piper triple, made it a 15-point game (51-36) with 3:31 on the clock. UH then responded with a three of its own and went on top, 60-40, with a put-back at the buzzer.
The Rainbow Wahine led by as many as 25 in the fourth quarter before UC Irvine finished the game on a 10-2 run to account for the 79-62 final.
The 'Bows shot 51 percent from the field and were led by Lahni Salanoa's 18 points. Makenna Woodfolk added a game-high 10 rebounds.
UC Irvine has a quick turnaround as it returns home to host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
NOTES: Andee Ritter has made multiple 3-pointers in 14 of 20 games played … She now ranks fourth among UC Irvine's single-season leaders with 58 treys on the year … Mckenzie Piper tied her career-high with three 3-pointers on the night … Shereen Sutherland pulled down at least seven rebounds for the 14th time this year … UCI was without the services of starting point guard Brooke Bayman (injury), who was averaging 8.0 assists over the last four contests.
