IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team nearly erased a 20-point deficit but their second-half comeback effort fell short in a 56-51 loss to CSUN Thursday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Matadors (9-10, 4-1 Big West) took their largest lead of the game two minutes into the third quarter, but the Anteaters never quit as a furious 17-6 rally brought them within seven heading into the fourth period.
 
The 'Eaters (5-13, 1-3 Big West) continued to fight with 3-pointers from juniors Dani Guglielmo and Haleigh Talbert making it 52-49 with 40.1 seconds on the clock, but CSUN was able to sink its free throws to hold on for the victory.
 
"Tonight we just came out flat and had to play catch up," said UCI head coach Tamara Inoue. "We almost got them, but credit to them for hitting those free throws."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Guglielmo led UC Irvine with a game and career-high 18 points. She was 6-for-11 from long distance. Talbert also finished with 16 points, a career-best eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
"Haleigh is our leader and she's a gunner," said Inoue. "She is tough and is just a special kid. It was also great to see Dani step up big today."
 
Freshman Sophia Locandro added 11 points and a game-high tying nine rebounds. Senior Lauren Saiki dished out six assists.
 
Jordyn Jackson (14 points) and Meghann Henderson (12 points, 9 rebounds) paced the Matador offense, while De'Jionae Calloway and Hayley Tanabe anchored the defensive effort with six and five steals, respectively.
 
UCI outrebounded CSUN, 40-36, and held the edge in both field goal percentage (38%-to-32%) and 3-point field goal percentage (30%-to-24%). The Anteaters' downfall came on a season-high 28 turnovers as the Matadors, who recorded 20 steals, scored 22 points off those mishaps.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine spotted CSUN a 6-0 lead before Locandro got the Anteaters on the board at the 7:10 mark. Talbert followed with a steal and layup to close the gap to two, but the Matadors stayed out front and held a 12-6 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. The 'Eaters committed 11 turnovers and scored a season-low six points in the first 10 minutes of play.
 
UCI's offensive struggles continued in the second period as it went scoreless over a five-minute stretch, allowing CSUN to pull ahead, 23-8, with 4:51 left in the half. Guglielmo then ended the drought with a three. She remained hot from beyond the arc, knocking down two more triples, but the visitors still led 32-17 at the break.
 
The Matadors went up by 20 just two minutes into the third frame. A three-point play from Locandro then sparked a 10-0 run that cut the deficit to 37-27 with 3:54 remaining. CSUN answered with a 6-2 spurt, but UC Irvine scored the final seven points to make it a seven-point game (43-36).
 
Both teams went cold early in the fourth as it was still 43-36 until the 6:42 mark when Guglielmo drained a 3-pointer. It would go back-and-forth over the next four-plus minutes. Guglielmo then came up big again with her sixth triple, and after the Matadors hit a pair of free throws, Talbert connected from long distance to bring UCI within three (52-49) with 40.1 seconds on the clock.
 
The 'Eaters had a chance to tie it up five seconds later as Talbert picked up a steal in the back court, but Guglielmo's 3-point attempt was just off the mark. CSUN corralled the rebound and was able to escape with the 56-51 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in the Bren Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, when it plays host to Long Beach State at 2 p.m. The Black & Blue Rivalry game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 

NOTES
• CSUN defeated UC Irvine at the Bren Events Center for the first time since Jan. 28, 2016.
• Haleigh Talbert has reached double figures in scoring in five consecutive outings.
• Talbert is averaging a team-best 17.0 points through four Big West games.
• Lauren Saiki now has 356 career assists, passing Erin Higashi for No. 2 among the Anteaters' all-time leaders.
• Dani Guglielmo had her first double-digit scoring game since Nov. 30.
• Her six 3-pointers are tied for sixth in UCI's single-game history.
• Sophia Locandro has led the team in rebounding in each of the last five contests.
• The 'Eaters have not won a game when trailing at the half this season.