RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Sophomore Andee Ritter tied a single-game school record with seven 3-pointers but UC Irvine fell to defending Big West regular season champion UC Riverside, 76-58, Saturday evening at the SRC Arena.

Ritter had a career night as she matched her personal bests with 23 points and three blocks. The 6-foot guard went 8-for-15 from the field and 7-of-14 from behind the arc. Her seven triples tied a single-game school record, previously set by Kathy Lizarraga (1988-89) and Katie Curtis (2004-05). Ritter added three steals and three rebounds, while committing only one turnover.

Junior Sabrina Engelstad also notched 12 points to go along with four rebounds and a career-best four assists. Senior Shereen Sutherland flirted with a double-double, finishing with nine points and a team-high seven boards. Freshman Brooke Bayman contributed four points, five rebounds and six assists.

The 'Eaters shot 36 percent on the night and were 9-of-22 from long distance (40.9 percent).

Sutherland got the scoring started with a jumper at the 7:48 mark. Ritter then broke a 2-2 tie with a 3-pointer and stayed hot from behind the arc as her fourth triple of the quarter gave the Anteaters a 16-4 lead with 1:09 to go. UCI stayed out front, pulling ahead 18-6 at the end of the first period.

UC Irvine (2-14, 0-2 Big West) increased its cushion to 20-6 following a pair of free throws by Engelstad with 9:46 remaining in the half. UC Riverside then started to chip away, outscoring the 'Eaters, 23-8, over the next six-plus minutes for its first advantage of the night at 29-28. It then went back-and-forth with five lead changes prior to the break as UCI ended the seesaw battle with a narrow 35-34 edge.

UCR struck first in the third frame before Ritter drained a 3-pointer to put the Anteaters on top 38-36 at the 8:32 mark. That would be their final lead of the game as the Highlanders proceeded to go on a 22-8 run over the final eight minutes.

UC Riverside's lead ballooned to 20 in the fourth period. UC Irvine continued to fight as a 7-2 spurt closed the gap to 73-58 with 3:02 on the clock, but the visitors were unable to keep the momentum as UCR emerged with the 76-58 victory.

UC Riverside (7-7, 1-0 Big West) ended the night shooting 43.7 percent from the floor. Rejane Verin paced the Highlanders with 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Lauren Holt also had 20 points.

UC Irvine returns to the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, for a 7 p.m. Big West game against CSUN.

NOTES: This was UC Irvine's first road game since Dec. 3 … The Anteaters held their first halftime lead of the season as they were up 35-34 at intermission … Andee Ritter has a team-best three 20-point games this year … Her seven 3-pointers increased her 2016-17 total to 44, which is tied for 10th in single-season school history … She is on pace to break the 28-year old program record of 64 … Ritter is tops in the Big West in 3-pointers made (44) and steals (37) ... Sabrina Engelstad notched her team-leading 12th double-digit scoring game … Brooke Bayman has registered at least four assists in five of the last six outings … She ranks first on the team with 54 helpers.