PORTLAND, Ore. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team used a big second half to run away with an 84-69 victory over Portland Sunday at Chiles Center.
 
The Anteaters (8-1) led by one at intermission before outscoring the Pilots, 47-33, over the final 20 minutes. UCI's three leading scorers anchored the effort as sophomore Jordan Sanders, senior Andee Ritter and junior Lauren Saiki combined for 68 points.
 
"Road games are always tough and I thought the first half we were trying to get a feel for the game," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "We had to sit Andee, Jordan and Lauren more than we normally do because of foul trouble, but in the second half, all three of them came out and did their jobs as leaders. They really stepped up to the plate to make sure we won this game."
 
Sanders finished with a career-high 29 points on a 13-for-18 shooting performance. She added five rebounds and a career-best six steals. Ritter was 4-of-5 from 3-point range for 20 points. She also pulled down a career-high tying nine rebounds. Saiki continued her stellar point guard play with 19 points, eight assists and only one turnover.
 
Sophomore Tahlia Garza chipped in six points and four rebounds, while classmate Haleigh Talbert notched five points and a career-best six assists.
 
"Overall, it was a great team effort," Inoue said. "Even though it doesn't really show up on the stat sheet, Tahlia came in and immediately gave us the impact we needed on rebounding. Her presence down low opened things up for everyone else. I'm just really proud of this team."
 
The 'Eaters scored 36 points off 22 forced turnovers. They shot 49.3 percent (33-67) from the field, were 8-of-21 from long distance, and 10-for-10 at the free throw line. UCI also won the battle on the boards, 32-31, and matched its season high with 23 assists.
 
Portland (7-3) struck first, but UC Irvine answered with a 10-0 run, capped by a Sanders jumper, to pull ahead by eight at the 6:42 mark. The Pilots came right back with eight unanswered to even the score. The two teams then traded points over the next couple minutes until UP took a 19-14 lead with 1:16 remaining. The Anteaters responded with buckets from Sanders and Saiki to make it a 19-18 game at the end of the first quarter.
 
It continued to be a seesaw battle in the second period with seven lead changes before the 'Eaters used an 8-2 spurt that ended with a three-point play from sophomore Alexus Seaton, to go on top, 35-30. UCI stayed out front the rest of the way as it held on to a one-point advantage (37-36) at the half.
 
UC Irvine opened the third frame with a 9-2 rally for a 46-38 cushion at the 6:43 mark. Portland would come back within two after back-to-back 3-pointers cut the Anteaters' lead to 51-49. Saiki answered with a triple and the 'Eaters went up, 58-51, by the end of the period.
 
Ritter knocked down another three to start the fourth quarter and the visitors never looked back, leading by at least nine the rest of the way.
 
Julie Spencer paced Portland with 19 points and eight rebounds. Haylee Andrews also had 17 points and seven assists.
 
UC Irvine is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 18, when it heads across town to Portland State for a 7 p.m. game.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine earned its first win at Portland and its first true road win in the state of Oregon.
• The Anteaters took their first-ever lead in their all-time series with Portland, 4-3.
• The 'Eaters forced 20+ turnovers for the eighth time this season.
• Jordan Sanders had her sixth 20-point game of the year and is averaging a team-best 21.1 ppg.
• Andee Ritter had her second-straight outing with at least four 3-pointers made.
• Ritter has knocked down 169 career threes, putting her just 30 away from breaking a 26-year old school record.
• Over the last five games, Lauren Saiki is averaging 14.0 points, 8.8 assists and only 1.4 turnovers.