IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 8 UC Irvine women's water polo team earned an important win over No. 4 Hawaii in Big West Conference action Friday at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
 
With the UCI win and UH loss, the teams' both sit at 2-1 in conference play which puts them in a tie for first place in the Big West standings.
 
The Anteaters improve to 15-8 on the season while the Rainbow Warriors fall to 14-5 overall.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Junior Morgan Jones had an impressive day in goal, notching 10 saves and a steal
> Tara Prentice had two goals, upping her yearly total to 55
> Sarah Nichols, Piper Smith, Kayleigh Schultz, Danielle Ayala and Isabel Rack each finished with one
> The 'Bows were led by Alba Bonamusa Boix with two goals while Molly DiLalla and Bridget Layburn had four saves apiece in goal
> UCI held a slight advantage in shots, 27-24
> The 'Eaters struggled in powerplay situations, finishing 0-3, however, UH didn't fare much better, going 1-4
 
QUARTER ONE
> The Rainbow Warriors got on the board first scoring with 6:40 left in the quarter
> Rack dished a pass to Ayala who fired in a goal with 2:27 to go followed by another UCI goal, this time from Schultz, with 1:42 left on the clock
> UH's Irene Gonzalez scored with under 30 seconds left to make it 2-2
 
QUARTER TWO
> Prentice and Rack tallied back-to-back goals to put the 'Eaters up, 4-2, with 3:49 to play
> The 'Bows scored to close out the frame, making it 4-3 at the intermission

QUARTER THREE
> Hawaii held the 'Eaters scoreless in the third quarter
> The Rainbow Warriors added a goal in the frame to knot the game, 4-4
 
QUARTER FOUR
> Prentice fired in a shot from beyond five meters to put the 'Eaters ahead, 5-4, with 6:51 to go
> Hawaii answered at 6:01 to tie it, 5-5
> Prentice found Smith at the center position as Smith fired in a goal to give UCI a 6-5 edge (5:07)
> Nichols capped the 'Eaters scoring with a final goal at 2:44
> The 'Bows scored once more (1:47) to make it, 7-6, but UCI was able to hold off a UH comeback, securing the win
 
MORGAN JONES ON TONIGHT'S WIN
"Tonight was an important win for us. Hawaii is a tough opponent and we played them in last year's Big West Tournament Championship Game which was an exciting, tough game. We are proud of this win but want to keep getting better and prepare for the rest of the season."
 
UP NEXT
> UCI host UC Davis Sunday, April 7 at 12 p.m. The Anteaters will honor their senior class at the conclusion of Sunday's competition  

NOTES
> This was UCI's first win over an opponent with a higher national ranking this season
> UCI has won two-straight against UH
> The Anteaters held a moment of silence before tonight's match in honor of legendary Coach Ted Newland who passed away yesterday