FULLERTON, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team was unable to recover from a five-point third quarter in a 67-58 loss to Cal State Fullerton Wednesday evening at Titan Gym.
 
The Anteaters (17-8, 7-6 Big West) gave their best shot at another big comeback with 25 in the fourth, but the Titans were able to hold on at the free throw line where they scored 12 of their final 19 points.
 
The 'Eaters made 11-of-13 at the charity stripe for the game. They struggled from the field at 32.8 percent and were 3-of-15 from long distance. UCI did score 20 points off 21 CSF turnovers.
 
"We're just not scoring like we normally do," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "I think we're getting good shots and we're doing ok defensively, we just have to get the offensive side going. We're in a little rut right now, but we're running out of time so we have to figure it out."
 
Junior Lauren Saiki led the way with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Fourteen of her points came in the fourth quarter alone. Sophomore Jordan Sanders added 16 points, while junior Brooke Bayman finished with seven points and four boards. Senior Andee Ritter chipped in seven points.
 
Sanders knocked down back-to-back jumpers to give UC Irvine an early 4-0 lead. Cal State Fullerton came back to tie it up, but the Anteaters responded with buckets from Bayman and Ritter to pull ahead, 8-4, at the 6:28 mark. The Titans then proceeded to go on a 16-4 run over the final five minutes for a 20-12 advantage.
 
The 'Eaters took control in the second period as Saiki scored five unanswered points to start a 12-2 rally that put the visitors on top, 24-22, with 4:48 remaining. The two teams then went back-and-forth before CSF made three free throws down the stretch for a 31-28 edge at the break.
 
UCI was unable to get any momentum in the third as Cal State Fullerton pushed its lead to seven before senior Sabrina Engelstad got the Anteaters back on the board at the 7:58 mark. The Titans went on to outscore UC Irvine, 17-5, in the frame for a 48-33 cushion.
 
Behind Saiki's impressive fourth-quarter performance, the 'Eaters started to mount a comeback. They scored the first six points and continued on a 12-4 spurt, capped by nine consecutive from Saiki to close the gap to 52-46 with 4:29 left. CSF was able to counter at the charity stripe, however, as it went 12-for-12 at the line to hold on for the 67-58 win.
 
Cal State Fullerton (13-13, 5-8 Big West) shot 50 percent from the field and 92 percent at the free throw line (22-24). The Titans were led by Daeja Smith, who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Raina Perez added 17 points, while Carolyn Gill also pulled down 11 boards.
 
UC Irvine is back home on Saturday, March 2, when it plays host to league-leading UC Davis at 2 p.m.
 
NOTES
• After tonight's loss, UC Irvine is tied for fourth with Hawai'i' in the Big West standings.
• The 'Eaters and 'Bows are 1.5 games back of CSUN and UC Riverside who play each other on Thursday.
• The Anteaters forced 20+ turnovers for the 17th time this year.
• UCI's five points in the third quarter were a season low.
• The 'Eaters saw their four-game win streak in their all-time series with the Titans come to an end.
• Andee Ritter made one 3-pointer to give her 191 in her career.
• Ritter is now eight away from breaking the program's 26-year old all-time record.
• Lauren Saiki notched her second 20-point game of the season.