SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Behind a career-high 25 points from junior Lauren Saiki, the UC Irvine women's basketball team downed Cal Poly, 75-59, in both teams' Big West opener Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletics Center.
 
The Anteaters (11-2, 1-0 Big West) trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, but finished strong, outscoring the Mustangs, 43-21, over the final 20 minutes. They made the late push without the services of senior Andee Ritter who left the game in the third quarter with an injury.
 
"We have so many options on this team," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "Jordan and Andee have been really clutch for us, and today it was Lauren. Every night we can get somebody different who comes in and shows that leadership. I'm just really proud of the group, especially when Andee went down. We're not sure what's wrong yet, but hopefully everything will be okay."
 
Saiki led the way with 25 points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks. She was 8-for-18 from the field and 9-of-11 at the free throw line to secure her first career 20-point game.  
 
Sophomore Jordan Sanders finished with 16 points, 12 of which came in the second half rally. She added eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Sophomore Tahlia Garza contributed nine points and a team-leading nine boards, while junior Yazzy Sa'Dullah chipped in seven points and four steals. Sophomore Haleigh Talbert also had four points and four steals.
 
The 'Eaters forced 28 turnovers and scored 25 points off those miscues. They also won the rebounding battle, 44-40. Sixteen of their boards came on the offensive end.
 
UC Irvine took an early 7-2 lead before Cal Poly knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. The Anteaters answered with buckets from Saiki and Garza to go up, 11-8, at the 4:25 mark. The 'Eaters were then held scoreless the rest of the way, allowing the Mustangs to go on top, 18-11, at the end of the first quarter.
 
Cal Poly (3-9, 0-1 Big West) kept the momentum to start the second period, taking its largest lead of the afternoon at 33-19 with 4:59 remaining. Sa'Dullah and Talbert then provided a spark as they had back-to-back steals and layups. Ritter followed with a 3-pointer and senior Sabrina Engelstad's bucket brought UCI within six (38-32) at the break.
 
The Mustangs shot 52 percent from the field, and were 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, in the first half.
 
CP stayed out front in the third frame, but UC Irvine continued to chip away and eventually used a 6-0 spurt, capped by a Garza layup, to go up, 49-48. It was their first lead since the opening quarter. The Anteaters kept their foot on the gas, extending their run and their advantage to 52-48.
 
The 'Eaters didn't let up in the fourth stanza, pulling ahead, 63-54, with just under four minutes to go. Cal Poly ended up fouling down the stretch and UCI responded at the charity stripe to run away with the 75-59 victory.
 
UC Irvine made the right adjustments at intermission, holding the Mustangs to 24 percent shooting and only one 3-pointer in the second half.
 
Devin Stanback paced Cal Poly with 17 points, all of which came in the first half. Dye Stahley added 16 points and seven assists, while Katie Nunnelly had 10 rebounds.
 
UC Irvine continues Big West action next weekend when it plays host to CSUN on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 1-0 in Big West play for the first time since 2010-11.
• The Anteaters continued their best overall start in program history at 11-2.
• The 'Eaters have now won three of the last four meetings in their all-time series with Cal Poly.
• UCI forced 28 turnovers which is a season high against Division I opponents.
• Lauren Saiki has reached double figures in each of the last five outings and topped her previous career high of 19 points.
• Saiki has also dished out five or more assists in nine-straight games.
• Andee Ritter made one 3-pointer before being sidelined with an injury.
• Ritter has 180 career threes and needs 19 more to break the school record.
• Jordan Sanders extended her double-figure scoring streak to 13 games.