RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team used a complete team effort with four players in double figures to run away with an 81-71 victory over UC Riverside Thursday evening at SRC Arena.
 
The Anteaters improved to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in Big West games, their best start to conference play in six years.
 
Junior Morgan Green, sophomore Lauren Saiki and freshman Jordan Sanders led the way with 17 points each. Sanders was 5-for-8 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free throw line, while 12 of Saiki's points came at the charity stripe. Green added eight rebounds and seven assists, and Sanders finished with six boards and three blocks.
 
Freshman Tahlia Garza also had a solid all-around performance with 14 points (6-8 FG), eight rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Haleigh Talbert chipped in seven points, and redshirt freshman Autumn Baumgartner had five points and four rebounds.
 
"Four people in double figures again just shows the depth of our team," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "On any given night it can be anyone who steps up. Tonight, Lauren did a tremendous job of closing out the game at the free throw line and making sure that when we got fouled we took care of business. UC Riverside is such a well-disciplined team; they capitalized on any mistakes we made, so we just had to make sure we honed in on both ends."
 
The 'Eaters hit season highs in both free throws made (33) and attempted (43). They also held a slight edge in field goal percentage (36.7 percent-to-35.2 percent). UCI did most of its damage in the second half where it outscored UCR, 51-36.
 
It went back-and-forth in the first two minutes with three ties before UC Riverside scored seven unanswered to pull ahead, 13-6, at the 6:45 mark. Garza ended the rally with a layup and the two teams traded points over the next two minutes. UC Irvine then closed out the first quarter on an 8-4 run to cut the deficit to 21-18.
 
Both squads went cold in the second period as they each shot 30.8 percent from the field. The Highlanders accounted for the first five points, before Sanders knocked down a pair of free throws to get the 'Eaters back on the board. That started a 6-2 spurt that closed the gap to 28-25 with 3:07 remaining in the half.
 
UCR (6-15, 3-4 Big West) increased its cushion back to seven, but that was its largest lead as a Dani Guglielmo triple capped a 5-1 sprint that made it a three-point game again. The home team was able to get one more bucket before the buzzer for a 35-30 advantage at intermission.
 
UC Irvine came out strong in the third quarter, quickly drawing even at 35-35 on a 3-pointer from Saiki and a jumper by Sanders. The Highlanders would go back on top, but the 'Eaters kept chipping away and eventually took their first lead at 42-41 on a Garza layup at the 5:27 mark.
 
There would be three more lead changes before UCI went on an 8-1 run over the final three minutes to go up, 54-49. Talbert came up big during the stretch as she hit a triple that broke a 48-48 deadlock.
 
UC Riverside came back within two on three occasions in the fourth frame, but the Anteaters were able to counter. After the Highlanders brought it to 67-65 with 3:43 to play, UC Irvine answered with a 9-2 rally gave it a 76-67 edge. That was more than enough separation for the 'Eaters, who got to the free throw line down the stretch to seal the 81-71 victory. Saiki accounted for UCI's final 10 points at the charity stripe.
 
Lauren Holt paced the Highlanders with a game-high 33 points.
 
UC Irvine returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 27, when it hosts CSUN in a 2 p.m. Big West showdown.

 
NOTES: Morgan Green has reached double figures in all six games she has played … She saw her streak of four-straight 20-point performances come to an end … It was the longest stretch by an 'Eater since Mikah Maly-Karros reached the 20-point mark in six consecutive outings in 2010 … Jordan Sanders' 17 points were the most she has scored against a Division I opponent … She had a season-high 18 vs. Chapman … Tahlia Garza is averaging 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over the last three games … She has reached double digits in scoring in each of those contests … UCI improved to 4-0 when it has four players score at least 10 points … The Anteaters are off to their best start in Big West play since 2011-12 when they were also 4-2 … UC Irvine snapped a five-game skid in its all-time series with UC Riverside and picked up its first road win against the Highlanders since Feb. 14, 2013.