SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team used a big fourth quarter to take down Cal Poly, 68-57, for its first Big West win of the season Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletics Center.
 
Neither team led by more than seven through three periods. The Anteaters were up, 43-42, heading into the fourth frame and quickly took control as a 13-3 run gave them an 11-point advantage with 6:36 remaining. The 'Eaters stayed in the driver's seat the rest of the way and ended up outscoring the Mustangs, 25-15, over the final 10 minutes.
 
For the second-straight game, junior Haleigh Talbert had a career high, putting up 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting (5-11 3FG). She was also 6-of-7 at the free throw line.
 
"Any win feels good so I'm glad we were able to pull it off today," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "Through all of the injuries we've had, Haleigh has been the one in practice who has really been a vocal leader and pushed her teammates. Just her aggressiveness alone makes us better."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Talbert's 23 points were a game high. She is the sixth Anteater to reach the 20-point mark this season. Talbert also pulled down four rebounds and drew six fouls.
 
Senior Lauren Saiki had the team's second double-double of the year, finishing with 12 points and a season-best 11 assists. It was her second consecutive outing with 10+ helpers. Freshman Jayde Cadee added 15 points on five triples, while classmate Sophia Locandro chipped in six points and seven rebounds.
 
Juniors Alexus Seaton and Joy Akaegbu-Cleveland also stepped up on the boards with six apiece.
 
Sierra Campisano paced Cal Poly with 20 points, and Alicia Roufosse finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
UCI shot 41% from the field, 33% from long distance and 77% at the free throw line. The Mustangs also shot 40% for the game, but struggled at the charity stripe where they were just 7-for-19 (37%). Both teams finished with 38 rebounds each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Cal Poly (3-11, 0-3 Big West) went up 9-2 before UC Irvine used an 8-0 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Talbert, to take its first lead of the game (10-9) at the 3:27 mark. The two teams then traded buckets as the Anteaters held a 12-11 edge at the end of the first quarter.
 
Cadee knocked down a triple to start the second period, but the Mustangs scored the next five points to go up, 16-15, at the 8:37 mark. The 'Eaters proceeded on a 13-6 spurt over the next five minutes to pull ahead, 28-22. UCI then hit a cold stretch allowing Cal Poly to close the gap to 28-26 at the break.
 
UC Irvine (5-12, 1-2 Big West) forced three turnovers early in the third frame and used a couple buckets from Seaton to extend its cushion to 32-28 with 8:41 remaining. The Mustangs eventually reclaimed the advantage, 39-36, at the 2:16 mark, their first lead since early in the second quarter. Cadee quickly responded, however, sinking a 3-pointer just nine seconds later. It went back-and-forth down the stretch with the Anteaters going on top 43-42 thanks to a Saiki jumper with five seconds on the clock.
 
The 'Eaters stepped on the gas in the fourth period with a 13-3 run creating some separation and giving them their largest lead at 56-45 with 6:35 to go. Talbert and Cadee sparked the rally with clutch 3-point shooting. Cal Poly would cut its deficit to single digits, but UCI went 6-for-6 at the free throw line over the final 41 seconds to seal the 68-57 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns home for two Big West games next week as it will host CSUN on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Long Beach State on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Anteaters' game against LBSU will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has now won four-straight in its all-time series with Cal Poly.
• Haleigh Talbert had her fourth consecutive double-figure scoring performance.
• Talbert connected on a career-high five 3-pointers, extending her streak of consecutive games played with at least one three made to eight.
• Lauren Saiki notched her third career double-double and fourth double-digit assist game.
• Saiki ranks fourth in the nation with 6.9 assists per contest.
• She is also two helpers away from passing Erin Higashi for No. 2 among UCI's all-time assists leaders.
• Jayde Cadee knocked down multiple threes for the fourth time in the last five outings.
• Cadee is averaging 4.0 triples per game during that stretch.
• The 'Eaters earned their first true road win since Feb. 21, 2019, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the process.