IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team shot 52.9 percent from the floor and had three players in double figures as they routed Chapman, 92-57, Tuesday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
Freshman Tahlia Garza recorded the Anteaters' first double-double of the year with 16 points (6-7 FG) and 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-2 forward also finished with a season-best five blocks.
 
Freshman Jordan Sanders had a team-high 18 points to go along with eight boards, while sophomore Lauren Saiki notched 14 points, four assists and three steals.

Freshman Haleigh Talbert chipped in eight points and five assists, and classmate Alexus Seaton had a season-best four points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Overall, UCI saw 11 of its 12 players make their way into the scoring column.
 
The 'Eaters were dominant in the paint where they outperformed the Panthers, 58-to-8. They also pulled down a season-high 50 rebounds, forced 29 turnovers and held CU to a 27.1 field goal percentage.

"Chapman's coach is so good and her team plays hard; I thought it was a good challenge for us," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "We just wanted to get back to basics, play our game and focus on what we needed to do defensively. I thought the fourth quarter was our best in terms of getting after it, so I'm proud of the way we finished tonight."
 
UC Irvine (6-6) raced out to an 8-2 lead following a Saiki jumper at the 6:42 mark. Chapman would close the gap to two before Garza's and-one started another 8-2 run that put the 'Eaters on top, 20-10, with one minute to go. The Panthers then ended a two minute scoring drought with a free throw, but junior Andee Ritter closed out the first quarter with a corner three to put UCI out front 23-11.
 
Chapman drained a couple 3-pointers early in the second period, but the Anteaters responded with an 11-4 sprint, capped by three-straight Garza layups, to pull ahead, 37-21, with 2:02 remaining in the half. UC Irvine continued to roll with Sanders knocking down her first career triple and the home team taking a 46-28 lead at the break.
 
The 'Eaters scored the first 10 points of the third frame to open up a 28-point advantage at the 6:26 mark. The Panthers then came back with a 15-2 run that cut the deficit to 58-43 with 3:43 to play. Jaime Hum-Nishikado provided the spark for Chapman with four 3-pointers during the rally. That was the closest the visitors would get, however, as UCI pulled ahead 64-48 at the end of the quarter.
 
It was all UC Irvine in the fourth where it outscored the Panthers, 28-9. After Chapman came back within 15, the Anteaters picked it up on the defensive end where three-straight steals and fastbreak layups helped them go up, 82-56, with 3:55 on the clock. The 'Eaters would hold the Panthers to just one point the rest of the way in the 92-57 victory.
 
Hum-Nishikado carried Chapman as she finished the night with eight 3-pointers and a game-high 27 points. Rachel Williams also had a team-best 11 rebounds. This was an exhibition for the Panthers, who own a 5-0 record against their fellow NCAA Division III members.
 
UC Irvine will now head to the Pacific Northwest for a 2 p.m. showdown at Seattle U on Friday, Dec. 22.
 

NOTES: The last time UC Irvine scored more than 90 points was on Dec. 29, 2016, when it also had 92 against Concordia … The Anteaters set season highs in points (92), rebounds (50), FG made (36), FG percentage (52.9), FT made (18) and turnovers forced (29) … UCI is 3-0 when it has three players reach double figures in scoring … The 'Eaters are now 5-0 when Jordan Sanders registers at least 10 points ... Sydney Hua saw her first action of the year, finishing with three points, two rebounds and one steal … Tahlia Garza is the first 'Eater to have five blocks in a game since Mokun Fajemisin against Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20, 2016 … Andee Ritter extended her streak of games with a 3-pointer made to seven.