IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team (14-4, 4-2 Big West) picked up the defensive intensity down the stretch to pull away with a 74-68 victory over UC Santa Barbara Thursday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The game was tied at 55-55 with 9:24 remaining in regulation, but the Anteaters forced the Gauchos into six turnovers and six missed field goals over the next seven-plus minutes, allowing them to create some separation with an 11-3 run.
 
Sophomore Jordan Sanders led the 'Eaters with a game-high 28 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field (2-3 3FG) and an 8-for-8 performance at the charity stripe. Sanders also pulled down five rebounds.
 
"Jordan is a phenomenal player and she doesn't get rattled which is a big reason why she does so well for us," head coach Tamara Inoue said.
 
Junior Lauren Saiki finished with 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Senior Sabrina Engelstad added 12 points (6-6 FT), five boards and two blocks.  
 
"Sabrina came out and did a great job for us," Inoue added. "Hitting her free throws is huge, and rebounding the ball, she really got after it with four offensive boards."
 
Junior Brooke Bayman dished out a team-best four assists, while classmate Yazzy Sa'Dullah had a game-high four steals. Senior Andee Ritter also registered five points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sophomores Tahlia Garza and Alexus Seaton contributed six and five points, respectively.
 
The Anteaters shot 41 percent from the floor and were 23-of-33 at the free throw line. UCSB shot 45 percent but only got to the line 15 times. The Gauchos also committed 20 turnovers.
 
UC Santa Barbara (4-15, 1-5 Big West) struck first and proceeded to go up, 12-7, before UC Irvine got going with a 14-4 run to take a 21-16 lead at the 1:28 mark. Sanders capped the rally with seven-straight points, including her first triple of the season. UCSB was able to close the gap to 21-19 by the end of the first quarter.
 
It went back-and-forth to start the second period with two ties and four lead changes before the Anteaters would take the lead for good on a pair of Engelstad free throws at the 5:25 mark. They continued on a 6-2 spurt to pull ahead, 33-30. The two teams traded points over the final three minutes as the 'Eaters held a 39-36 advantage at the break. Engelstad scored 10 of UCI's 18 points in the second frame.
 
UC Irvine looked as if it was going to run away with it in the third stanza, scoring the first seven points to go on top, 46-36, with 8:27 remaining. The Gauchos chipped away, however, and cut the Anteaters' lead down to one (53-52).
 
UCSB evened the score at 55-all on a 3-pointer in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but UC Irvine took over from there. Behind their strong defensive effort, the 'Eaters scored six unanswered with a Ritter jumper making it 61-55 at the 6:52 mark. UCI extended its lead to seven before both teams went scoreless over the next three-plus minutes. UC Irvine broke the drought with a free throw from Saiki with 1:29 to go, and led by at least five the rest of the way.
 
Coco Miller paced the Gauchos with 19 points, while Danae Miller added 16.
 
UC Irvine will return to action next week when it hosts Hawai'i at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, and Cal State Fullerton at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. The game against the Titans will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine improved to 8-1 at home and are a perfect 3-0 at the Bren against Big West opponents.
• The Anteaters are 4-2 in conference for the second-straight year.
• They are currently third in the Big West standings, a half-game behind second-place CSUN and 1.5 back of league-leading UC Davis.
• Jordan Sanders recorded her second-straight 20+ point game. It was also her team-leading ninth of the season.
• The Anteaters are 11-0 all-time when Sanders scores at least 20 points.
• Sanders went 8-for-8 at the free throw line for the second time in her career.
• Sabrina Engelstad notched her fourth double-figure scoring game, but first since Dec. 7.
• Andee Ritter, who broke a school record with eight 3-pointers made last Saturday, was held without a three for just the third time this season.
• Ritter picked up two steals, increasing her career total to 173, which is tied for sixth in program history.