IRVINE, Calif. - In their final regular-season game, seniors Andee Ritter and Sabrina Engelstad helped the UC Irvine women's basketball team to a 65-60 win over Long Beach State at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon.
 
A better script couldn't have been written for Ritter, who with her family in attendance, broke UCI's all-time records in both 3-pointers made and steals. She knocked down three triples on the day to give her 199 in her career, topping the previous mark of 198 held by Kathy Lizarraga since 1992. Her two steals also put her at 189 in her career, moving her ahead of Megan Stafford (188).
 

For the three pointer career record???? Congrats Andee!!! pic.twitter.com/TmgO7goT3I

— UCI W Basketball (@UCIwbb) March 9, 2019

 
"Andee is a phenomenal player," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "What she's done here has really been done in three years with the injuries that she's gone through. She's a household name for me and a household name for UCI."
 
"Sabrina came in as a great leader for us since day one," Inoue added. "She is always there for her teammates, she is always coachable and does her job in the classroom."
 
Ritter finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Lauren Saiki had a game-high 23 points to go along with three boards and three assists. Sophomore Tahlia Garza added 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while junior Brooke Bayman chipped in eight points and three steals.
 
The Anteaters (18-10, 8-8 Big West) shot 40 percent overall and were 8-of-22 from long distance. They forced the 49ers into 21 turnovers and held a slight 34-33 advantage in rebounding.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start with Long Beach State (8-21, 5-11 Big West) taking a 9-6 lead at the 2:45 mark. UC Irvine then began to heat up, going 4-for-5 from the field, including a pair of threes by Saiki, to close on a 10-4 run, and pull ahead 16-13.
 
In the second period, the Beach went up, 20-18, before consecutive layups from Garza put the 'Eaters on top, 22-20, with 4:08 remaining. It went back-and-forth from there with UCI holding a 26-25 edge at the break.
 
Ritter started the scoring in the third frame with a putback, but the 49ers responded with a 4-0 spurt to reclaim the lead. The Anteaters returned the favor with an 11-2 run, capped by Ritter's record-breaking three as well as a trey from Bayman, to take their largest lead of the game at 39-31 with 2:02 left to play. The home team stayed out front, maintaining a 42-35 cushion at the end of the quarter.
 
UC Irvine bent but didn't break in the fourth. LBSU quickly closed the gap to two at the 9:12 mark, but a couple free throws and a Garza layup gave the 'Eaters some breathing room at 46-40. UCI led by at least three until Long Beach State made it a two-point game (59-57) on a Naomi Hunt 3-pointer with 1:07 to go. Saiki then came up big with her career-best fourth three of game. The Anteater defense locked down from there, emerging with the 65-60 win.
 
Sydney Bordonaro paced the Beach with 14 points, while Hunt and Shanaijah Davison had 13 each.
 
UC Irvine will be back at the Bren Events Center next Tuesday, March 12, for the first round of the Big West Tournament. The fifth-seeded Anteaters will take on No. 8 seed UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine swept Long Beach State in the regular season for the first time since 1998.
• The Anteaters secured their second-straight 18-win season.
• It is their most victories in back-to-back campaigns since 1983-84 (20) and 1984-85 (21).
• The 'Eaters improved to 12-0 when leading at halftime this year.
• Andee Ritter now holds UCI's single-game (8), single-season (87) and career (199) records in 3FG made.
• Tahlia Garza took over sole possession of ninth in the record books with her 63rd career block.
• Lauren Saiki put up her third 20-point game, and second in the last four outings.
• The Anteaters picked up their first win of the year without leading scorer Jordan Sanders, who has missed four games with an injury.
• UC Irvine now leads the Black & Blue Rivalry Series, 15-9.