Monday, January 6
Irvine, Calif.
7:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
Westcliff University
Anteaters Begin 2020 with Non-Conference Finale
January 03, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Westcliff (7-12) at
UC Irvine (3-10)
Date: Monday, Dec. 6
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: Bren Events Center (5,000) - Irvine, Calif.
Watch // Listen // Live Stats // Tickets (UCI Undergraduate Students Free with I.D.)
Game Notes (PDF)
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team will host Westcliff University in its non-conference finale on Monday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
STORYLINES
• UC Irvine will be looking to snap an eight-game skid, its longest losing streak since 2016-17.
• Westcliff University is an NAIA institution located in Irvine.
• Monday's game will count toward the Anteaters' record, but is an exhibition for the Warriors.
• The 'Eaters are looking to bounce back following a rough December where they went 0-6. Five of those six games were on the road.
• Eight of UCI's 11 active players have reached double figures in scoring, with three hitting the 20-point mark.
• UC Irvine ranks first in the Big West and 42nd in all of NCAA Division I with 4.6 blocks per game.
• Senior Lauren Saiki leads the team with 12.6 ppg and 6.6 apg. Her assist average is currently among the top-five in the nation.
• Saiki is the sixth Anteater in program history to reach 300 career assists.
• She is sixth on the school's all-time charts with 318 career helpers and needs four more to surpass Kristen Green for No. 5.
• Freshman Jayde Cadee had a breakout performance at SMU with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
• Cadee's seven triples are tied for second in UCI's single-game history, while her 70% clip is also among the program's all-time top-10.
• The 'Eaters were picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll and second in the Big West Preseason Media Poll.
WITH A WIN...
• The Anteaters would be 3-1 at home this season, and improve to 25-9 at the Bren Events Center since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
• UCI would come out on top in its non-conference finale for the fourth-straight year.
• The 'Eaters would get back in the win column for the first time since Nov. 19, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the process.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Westcliff University (7-12), which competes in the NAIA, most recently suffered a 71-57 defeat to Cal Maritime on Dec. 21. The Warriors will travel to Antelope Valley College (Jan. 3) before making their way to the Bren Events Center for their fourth contest against an NCAA Division I opponent. Lauren Davis leads the team with 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Murrellene Woodson is also averaging 7.7 points and 4.5 boards, while Mary Dishoian is tops on the squad with 2.2 assists per outing.
SERIES RECORD
This will mark the first meeting between UC Irvine and Westcliff University.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine suffered a heartbreaking 59-56 defeat at SMU last Sunday (Dec. 29). The Anteaters led by eight with 7:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, but were held to just three points the rest of the way. The Mustangs took advantage of the drought and eventually broke a 56-56 deadlock on a putback with 16.5 seconds to go. Jayde Cadee led the 'Eaters with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Lauren Saiki also had 12 points and a game-high six assists.
300 AND COUNTING
Senior Lauren Saiki is the sixth Anteater in program history to record 300 career assists. She reached the milestone with the second of her five helpers against Vanderbilt on Dec. 20. Saiki, who is in her third year at UC Irvine after transferring from West Virginia, currently ranks sixth on UCI's all-time list with 318 assists.
THE LO-DOWN
Saiki has been the Anteaters' assists leader in 47 of her 76 career games played. The Monterey Park, Calif., native has dished out a team-best 86 dimes this season, with her 6.6 apg ranking fourth in the nation. In addition, Saiki, who has made a 3-pointer in 15 consecutive games dating back to last year, has reached double figures in scoring nine times with a season-high 20 points coming in a win over Loyola Marymount. She went 4-for-7 from long distance against the Lions.
ALL-TOURNAMENT QUEEN
Saiki earned all-tournament honors in each of UC Irvine's three preseason tournaments. She was selected to the Kansas City Site Preseason WNIT Consolation All-Tournament Team, the Pioneer Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team, and most recently the Husky Classic All-Tournament Team.
COUNT 'EM FOR CADEE
Freshman Jayde Cadee (Macleod, Victoria, Australia) had a breakout performance at SMU on Dec. 29, scoring a season-high 21 points. Cadee shattered her previous best of 12 points vs. Portland State earlier in the month. All of her game-high 21 points came from behind the arc where she went 7-for-10. Her seven triples are the most by a Big West player this year and are tied for second in UCI's single-game history. Her 70% clip also ranks among the top-10.
COMING INTO HER OWN
In her third year at UC Irvine, junior Alexus Seaton has emerged as one of the team's leaders. The Fort Worth, Texas, native has started every game and is tops on the squad with 22 steals (1.7 spg), while she ranks second in scoring (10.6 ppg), rebounding (4.4 rpg) assists (2.0 apg) and blocks (0.9 bpg). Seaton, who came into the 2019-20 campaign averaging 2.3 points per outing, has reached double figures in scoring six times with a career-high 23 points vs. Vanderbilt. She just missed her first double-double with nine rebounds against the Commodores.
BALANCED ATTACK
Eight Anteaters have reached double figures in scoring with three hitting the 20-point mark this year. Lauren Saiki has put up 10+ points in nine of 13 games. Alexus Seaton, Sophia Locandro, Dani Guglielmo, Chloe Webb, Haleigh Talbert and Jayde Cadee also have multiple double-digit outings, while Yazzy Sa'Dullah rounds out the group. UC Irvine has had six different leading scorers in 2019-20.
HOME COOKING
Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, UC Irvine is 24-9 (.727) at the Bren Events Center. The 24 home victories in two-plus seasons are more than the Anteaters' combined total from the previous five years.
ACCESS DENIED
UC Irvine, which ranked 22nd in the nation in turnovers forced last year, has continued to put the defensive pressure on its opponents in 2019-20. The Anteaters have forced 17.2 turnovers per game with a season-high 29 against Loyola Marymount. The 'Eaters have also registered 4.6 blocks per outing, which is tops in the Big West and 42nd in all of NCAA Division I. They had a season-high 10 blocked shots at Denver, marking the first time they reached double digits in that category since Jan. 27, 2010.
DECEMBER WOES
The Anteaters struggled to an 0-6 record in December. Five of those games were on the road as they traveled to Utah, Washington and Texas. It is the first time they have gone winless in a month since November 2016. The last time the 'Eaters were unable to pick up a victory in the month of December was in 2004.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
UC Irvine's active freshmen have provided quality minutes early in their careers. Chloe Webb (4) and Sophia Locandro (3) have combined for seven double-figure scoring games. Locandro had a season-high 16 points (7-8 FG) at Denver, while Webb put up a collegiate-best 13 points vs. Portland State on Nov. 16. Jayde Cadee has also reached double digits on two occasions, most recently at SMU where she knocked down seven triples for a season-best 21 points. Cadee ranks second on the team with 17 3-pointers made.
'EATERS ANNOUNCE 2020 SIGNING CLASS
The Anteaters signed Victoria Baker and Caiyle Kaupu to National Letters of Intent in November. Baker, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Austin, Texas, is a two-time first-team all-district selection at Vista Ridge High School. Kaupu is a 6-foot forward out of Holualoa, Hawaii. She is a three-time first-team All-BIIF and two-time all-state honoree at Konawaena High School.
OPENING NIGHT
The 'Eaters started the 2019-20 campaign with a 79-77 win over San José State on Nov. 5. They are now 3-1 in season openers in the Tamara Inoue era. In 2018-19, UCI defeated Life Pacific College (NAIA), 105-31. The 74-point triumph tied the second-largest margin of victory in program history. In 2017-18, the Anteaters won in more dramatic fashion, erasing a 13-point deficit in the final minutes with a half-court shot at the buzzer capping the rally for an 87-84 victory over Utah State.
WINNING WAYS
In 2018-19, UC Irvine recorded the third 20-win season in program history, and first in 34 years. The 'Eaters have increased their win total in each of Tamara Inoue's three seasons as head coach, upping their number of victories by one in 2016-17, 12 in 2017-18 and two in 2018-19.
THE TURNAROUND
The 'Eaters made their biggest jump in 2017-18 with their highest win total (18) and first postseason appearance since 1994-95. They saw a 12.5-game improvement from 2016-17, which marked the second-best turnaround in all of NCAA Division I.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
For the first time in program history, the Anteaters were picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. They received six of the nine first-place votes to top the list with 77 points. Three-time defending regular season champion UC Davis was a close second with 70 points (two first-place votes). UC Riverside collected the final first-place nod and came in third with 60 points. Lauren Saiki made the media's Preseason All-Big West Team.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine will start Big West Conference play on the road, traveling to CSUN for a 4 p.m. showdown against the Matadors on Saturday, Jan. 11.
UC Irvine (3-10)
Date: Monday, Dec. 6
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: Bren Events Center (5,000) - Irvine, Calif.
Watch // Listen // Live Stats // Tickets (UCI Undergraduate Students Free with I.D.)
Game Notes (PDF)
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team will host Westcliff University in its non-conference finale on Monday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
STORYLINES
• UC Irvine will be looking to snap an eight-game skid, its longest losing streak since 2016-17.
• Westcliff University is an NAIA institution located in Irvine.
• Monday's game will count toward the Anteaters' record, but is an exhibition for the Warriors.
• The 'Eaters are looking to bounce back following a rough December where they went 0-6. Five of those six games were on the road.
• Eight of UCI's 11 active players have reached double figures in scoring, with three hitting the 20-point mark.
• UC Irvine ranks first in the Big West and 42nd in all of NCAA Division I with 4.6 blocks per game.
• Senior Lauren Saiki leads the team with 12.6 ppg and 6.6 apg. Her assist average is currently among the top-five in the nation.
• Saiki is the sixth Anteater in program history to reach 300 career assists.
• She is sixth on the school's all-time charts with 318 career helpers and needs four more to surpass Kristen Green for No. 5.
• Freshman Jayde Cadee had a breakout performance at SMU with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
• Cadee's seven triples are tied for second in UCI's single-game history, while her 70% clip is also among the program's all-time top-10.
• The 'Eaters were picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll and second in the Big West Preseason Media Poll.
WITH A WIN...
• The Anteaters would be 3-1 at home this season, and improve to 25-9 at the Bren Events Center since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
• UCI would come out on top in its non-conference finale for the fourth-straight year.
• The 'Eaters would get back in the win column for the first time since Nov. 19, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the process.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Westcliff University (7-12), which competes in the NAIA, most recently suffered a 71-57 defeat to Cal Maritime on Dec. 21. The Warriors will travel to Antelope Valley College (Jan. 3) before making their way to the Bren Events Center for their fourth contest against an NCAA Division I opponent. Lauren Davis leads the team with 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Murrellene Woodson is also averaging 7.7 points and 4.5 boards, while Mary Dishoian is tops on the squad with 2.2 assists per outing.
SERIES RECORD
This will mark the first meeting between UC Irvine and Westcliff University.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine suffered a heartbreaking 59-56 defeat at SMU last Sunday (Dec. 29). The Anteaters led by eight with 7:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, but were held to just three points the rest of the way. The Mustangs took advantage of the drought and eventually broke a 56-56 deadlock on a putback with 16.5 seconds to go. Jayde Cadee led the 'Eaters with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Lauren Saiki also had 12 points and a game-high six assists.
300 AND COUNTING
Senior Lauren Saiki is the sixth Anteater in program history to record 300 career assists. She reached the milestone with the second of her five helpers against Vanderbilt on Dec. 20. Saiki, who is in her third year at UC Irvine after transferring from West Virginia, currently ranks sixth on UCI's all-time list with 318 assists.
THE LO-DOWN
Saiki has been the Anteaters' assists leader in 47 of her 76 career games played. The Monterey Park, Calif., native has dished out a team-best 86 dimes this season, with her 6.6 apg ranking fourth in the nation. In addition, Saiki, who has made a 3-pointer in 15 consecutive games dating back to last year, has reached double figures in scoring nine times with a season-high 20 points coming in a win over Loyola Marymount. She went 4-for-7 from long distance against the Lions.
ALL-TOURNAMENT QUEEN
Saiki earned all-tournament honors in each of UC Irvine's three preseason tournaments. She was selected to the Kansas City Site Preseason WNIT Consolation All-Tournament Team, the Pioneer Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team, and most recently the Husky Classic All-Tournament Team.
COUNT 'EM FOR CADEE
Freshman Jayde Cadee (Macleod, Victoria, Australia) had a breakout performance at SMU on Dec. 29, scoring a season-high 21 points. Cadee shattered her previous best of 12 points vs. Portland State earlier in the month. All of her game-high 21 points came from behind the arc where she went 7-for-10. Her seven triples are the most by a Big West player this year and are tied for second in UCI's single-game history. Her 70% clip also ranks among the top-10.
COMING INTO HER OWN
In her third year at UC Irvine, junior Alexus Seaton has emerged as one of the team's leaders. The Fort Worth, Texas, native has started every game and is tops on the squad with 22 steals (1.7 spg), while she ranks second in scoring (10.6 ppg), rebounding (4.4 rpg) assists (2.0 apg) and blocks (0.9 bpg). Seaton, who came into the 2019-20 campaign averaging 2.3 points per outing, has reached double figures in scoring six times with a career-high 23 points vs. Vanderbilt. She just missed her first double-double with nine rebounds against the Commodores.
BALANCED ATTACK
Eight Anteaters have reached double figures in scoring with three hitting the 20-point mark this year. Lauren Saiki has put up 10+ points in nine of 13 games. Alexus Seaton, Sophia Locandro, Dani Guglielmo, Chloe Webb, Haleigh Talbert and Jayde Cadee also have multiple double-digit outings, while Yazzy Sa'Dullah rounds out the group. UC Irvine has had six different leading scorers in 2019-20.
HOME COOKING
Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, UC Irvine is 24-9 (.727) at the Bren Events Center. The 24 home victories in two-plus seasons are more than the Anteaters' combined total from the previous five years.
ACCESS DENIED
UC Irvine, which ranked 22nd in the nation in turnovers forced last year, has continued to put the defensive pressure on its opponents in 2019-20. The Anteaters have forced 17.2 turnovers per game with a season-high 29 against Loyola Marymount. The 'Eaters have also registered 4.6 blocks per outing, which is tops in the Big West and 42nd in all of NCAA Division I. They had a season-high 10 blocked shots at Denver, marking the first time they reached double digits in that category since Jan. 27, 2010.
DECEMBER WOES
The Anteaters struggled to an 0-6 record in December. Five of those games were on the road as they traveled to Utah, Washington and Texas. It is the first time they have gone winless in a month since November 2016. The last time the 'Eaters were unable to pick up a victory in the month of December was in 2004.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
UC Irvine's active freshmen have provided quality minutes early in their careers. Chloe Webb (4) and Sophia Locandro (3) have combined for seven double-figure scoring games. Locandro had a season-high 16 points (7-8 FG) at Denver, while Webb put up a collegiate-best 13 points vs. Portland State on Nov. 16. Jayde Cadee has also reached double digits on two occasions, most recently at SMU where she knocked down seven triples for a season-best 21 points. Cadee ranks second on the team with 17 3-pointers made.
'EATERS ANNOUNCE 2020 SIGNING CLASS
The Anteaters signed Victoria Baker and Caiyle Kaupu to National Letters of Intent in November. Baker, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Austin, Texas, is a two-time first-team all-district selection at Vista Ridge High School. Kaupu is a 6-foot forward out of Holualoa, Hawaii. She is a three-time first-team All-BIIF and two-time all-state honoree at Konawaena High School.
OPENING NIGHT
The 'Eaters started the 2019-20 campaign with a 79-77 win over San José State on Nov. 5. They are now 3-1 in season openers in the Tamara Inoue era. In 2018-19, UCI defeated Life Pacific College (NAIA), 105-31. The 74-point triumph tied the second-largest margin of victory in program history. In 2017-18, the Anteaters won in more dramatic fashion, erasing a 13-point deficit in the final minutes with a half-court shot at the buzzer capping the rally for an 87-84 victory over Utah State.
WINNING WAYS
In 2018-19, UC Irvine recorded the third 20-win season in program history, and first in 34 years. The 'Eaters have increased their win total in each of Tamara Inoue's three seasons as head coach, upping their number of victories by one in 2016-17, 12 in 2017-18 and two in 2018-19.
THE TURNAROUND
The 'Eaters made their biggest jump in 2017-18 with their highest win total (18) and first postseason appearance since 1994-95. They saw a 12.5-game improvement from 2016-17, which marked the second-best turnaround in all of NCAA Division I.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
For the first time in program history, the Anteaters were picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. They received six of the nine first-place votes to top the list with 77 points. Three-time defending regular season champion UC Davis was a close second with 70 points (two first-place votes). UC Riverside collected the final first-place nod and came in third with 60 points. Lauren Saiki made the media's Preseason All-Big West Team.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine will start Big West Conference play on the road, traveling to CSUN for a 4 p.m. showdown against the Matadors on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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