IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team had another thrilling victory, this time coming all the way back from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to top Cal State Fullerton, 65-61, Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (15-5, 5-3, Big West) outscored the Titans, 23-7, in the fourth period and forced two big turnovers in the final eight seconds to pull out the win.
 
"In the second quarter, we had good looks, we just didn't make shots," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "That put us behind and then we let up defensively. When that happens it makes the second half really hard, but my players don't give up. They play hard all the way through, and that's what we did today, especially in that fourth quarter when we made that strong push."
 
After combining for just seven field goals on 35 attempts in the second and third periods, the 'Eaters shot 54 percent (7-13) overall and 82 percent (9-11) from the free throw line over the last 10 minutes.
 
Sophomore Jordan Sanders paced UCI with a game-high 18 points, to go along with eight rebounds and two blocks. Junior Brooke Bayman also finished with a season-best 13 points and four boards. Junior Lauren Saiki added 12 points, 10 of which came in the second half, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Sophomore Alexus Seaton chipped in eight points, while classmate Tahlia Garza had four points, eight boards and three blocks. Sophomore Haleigh Talbert also had seven points and four rebounds.
 
Cal State Fullerton (11-11, 3-6 Big West) took an early 5-0 advantage before Saiki got UC Irvine on the board at the 8:29 mark. A Talbert three eventually knotted the score and a Sanders layup gave the 'Eaters their first lead at 11-9. UCI kept the momentum as they pulled ahead, 18-9, but the Titans closed out the first quarter with back-to-back buckets to close the gap to five.
 
In the second period, a layup from Garza put UCI on top by seven before CSF stormed back with a 13-1 rally to go up, 28-23. Bayman then ended a three-minute scoring drought for UC Irvine, but the visitors would take a 35-28 lead at the half.
 
The Anteaters came out of the break with a renewed energy, scoring the first six points as back-to-back jumpers from Sanders made it a one-point game (35-34) at the 8:18 mark. Cal State Fullerton would not relinquish the lead, however, and made a late push for a 54-42 cushion at the end of the third frame.
 
The 'Eaters regrouped once again, opening the fourth stanza on a 10-0 run, sparked by six points from Sanders, to cut the deficit to 54-52 with 6:22 to play. The Titans then got on the board, but an and-one from Seaton, followed by two free throws from Sanders gave UCI its first lead (57-56) since early in the second quarter.
 
It went back-and-forth over the next minute, and CSF held a 61-60 edge with 59 seconds left. UC Irvine missed a 3-point attempt on the other end, but Talbert came up with a clutch offensive rebound. The Anteaters reset and Saiki was able to find Sanders who banked in the jumper for a 62-61 lead with 8.3 ticks on the clock.

Cal State Fullerton called a timeout and advanced the ball to the front court, but UCI's pressure forced them into a crucial turnover on the inbounds pass. Senior Andee Ritter then made 1-of-2 free throws before another great defensive effort, capped by a steal from Seaton, put the game away. Talbert would make two more foul shots to secure the 65-61 win.
 
Daeja Smith led the Titans with 14 points, while Carolyn Gill pulled down a game and career-high 18 rebounds.
 
UC Irvine will hit the road next week, traveling to Long Beach State (Feb. 14) and UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 16).
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine secured its second-straight 15-win season for the first time since 1996-97 and 1997-98.
• It is also the fastest the 'Eaters have reached the 15-win mark in 34 years.
• This was the fifth time this season the Anteaters came back to win after trailing by double digits.
• Jordan Sanders and Lauren Saiki scored 24 of their combined 30 points in the second half.
• Sanders, who went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe, has made 21 consecutive free throws over the last three games.
• UC Irvine finished with a season-best seven blocks.
• One of UCI women's basketball's all-time greats Kathy Lizarraga was in the stands on Homecoming weekend.
• Andee Ritter is chasing Lizarraga's program record of 198 career 3-pointers made.
• Ritter (189 3FG) needs 10 more to break the record.
• The 'Eaters have now won four in a row against the Titans and are 4-1 vs. CSF in the Tamara Inoue era.