IRVINE, Calif. - Behind solid team defense, a big double-double from sophomore Jordan Sanders and some late heroics by senior Andee Ritter, the UC Irvine women's basketball team topped UNLV, 57-55, Tuesday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
It was a close game throughout as neither side led by more than five. Both teams shot under 40 percent, but the 'Eaters were able to force 23 turnovers, while committing only 13 of their own. 

"I think our defense was really good," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "UNLV made some uncharacteristic threes that we didn't scout and that kept them in it. We also didn't have a great shooting night, but credit to our team for battling it out. Only hitting one three is something that we don't normally do. I'm just so proud of my team for a gritty win."

With time winding down and the score knotted at 55-55, Ritter drove down the right side of the lane for a scoop layup with 3.1 seconds on the clock. The Lady Rebels called a timeout and advanced the ball but the Anteaters' defense did not allow them to get a good look before the buzzer.

"Andee has ice in her veins," Inoue added. "I have all the confidence in her - even if she is 0-for-10, I believe the next one is going in, and so do her teammates. That shows in the fact that they gave the ball right to her on that final possession."
 

Andee with the game winner! #RipEm pic.twitter.com/NICyB1aBzw

— UCI W Basketball (@UCIwbb) November 14, 2018

Sanders finished with her second career double-double, and first of the season, as she recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds. She also had a career-high tying four blocks, including one that kept the score tied with 25 seconds to play.
 
Sophomore Haleigh Talbert, who was 6-for-6 at the free throw line, tallied her second-straight double-figure scoring game with 12 points. Ritter added seven points and two steals, while junior Lauren Saiki contributed four points, four assists and three steals.
 
Sanders scored UC Irvine's first seven points with her and-one at the 6:16 mark putting the 'Eaters on top, 7-2. UNLV came back to take its first lead at 9-8 with 4:42 remaining. That lead would change hands four more times before the Lady Rebels closed out the first quarter on a 5-2 spurt for the 16-14 advantage.
 
The Anteaters (2-0) quickly tied it up in the second period with a layup from senior Sabrina Engelstad, and the two teams proceeded to trade buckets over the first couple minutes. UNLV pushed its slim lead to three at the 4:10 mark, and stayed out front until back-to-back jumpers by Sanders gave UCI a 25-24 edge with 59.6 seconds to play. The visitors were able to answer before the break, however, as they pulled ahead, 26-25, at the half.
 
It looked as though UC Irvine was ready to create some separation in the third frame as an 11-5 run, capped by a pair of Talbert free throws, put the 'Eaters on top, 35-31, with 5:30 to go, but a quick three from UNLV cut the margin to one. The Lady Rebels continued on an 11-2 spurt giving them their largest lead at 42-37. The Anteaters never let up as they rallied to make it a one-point game (44-43) heading into the fourth.
 
On UCI's first possession of the final quarter, Ritter knocked down the team's first and only three of the night. Talbert followed with a pair of free throws to increase the cushion to 48-44. The 'Eaters kept the lead until three-straight UNLV points put the visitors up, 54-53. Sanders responded with a pair of free throws, while the Lady Rebels were only able to convert 1-of-2 on the other end, setting the stage for Ritter's game-winner.
 
Overall, there were 12 lead changes and nine ties.
 
Katie Powell paced UNLV (0-2) with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jordyn Bell and LaTecia Smith added 11 points each.
 
UC Irvine's next game will be on Tuesday, Nov. 20, when it welcomes Southern Utah to the Bren Events Center for a 7 p.m. showdown. The Anteaters were originally scheduled to play at Pepperdine on Friday (Nov. 16), but that contest has been postponed due to the impact of the Woolsey Fire on the Malibu area, and will be rescheduled at a later date.
 
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 2-0 for the fifth time in program history, and first since 1995-96.
• The Anteaters snapped a seven-game losing streak in their all-time series with UNLV.
• They defeated the Lady Rebels for the first time in 24 years.
• Jordan Sanders had UCI's first 20-point game of the season, and matched a career-high with 12 boards.
• The 'Eaters improved to 15-3 all-time when Sanders scores 10+ points.
• UC Irvine has now had one player with a double-double in each of its first two games. They combined for a total of three double-doubles last year.
• Through two games, the Anteaters are averaging 18.0 steals and have forced 29.5 turnovers per outing.