LONG BEACH, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team picked up a crucial Big West victory, defeating Long Beach State, 70-61, Thursday evening at the Walter Pyramid.
 
The Anteaters (9-17, 5-7 Big West) jumped from eighth to sixth in the conference standings. They are one game back of UC Santa Barbara and LBSU, who are tied for fourth, and 1.5 games behind Cal State Fullerton in third.
 
"This win is huge," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "In our conference right now, there is only one or two games separating third place from eighth place. So, we are all battling right now. We needed this one tonight, and I'm really proud of my team for sticking it out and winning this game."
 
The 'Eaters hit a couple milestones in the victory as senior Lauren Saiki became the second player in program history to surpass 400 career assists (405). Freshman Jayde Cadee also tied a single-game school record with eight 3-pointers made.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Cadee led all scorers with a season-high 24 points on an 8-of-14 performance from beyond the arc. Her eight triples tied the single-game school record set by Andee Ritter last year.
 
Junior Haleigh Talbert also finished with 16 points on four threes, while pulling down seven rebounds. Junior Tahlia Garza added a season-best 10 points, five boards and three blocks.
 
Saiki matched her season high with 11 assists to go along with five steals, and freshman Sophia Locandro corralled a team-best eight rebounds. Junior Alexus Seaton chipped in seven boards and four assists.

Justina King paced LBSU with 16 points and five assists.
 
The Anteaters shot 47% from the field while holding the Beach to 31%. UCI also shot 50% from long distance, making a season-high 13 3-pointers. Both teams committed 20+ turnovers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine struck first and started the game with a 9-2 lead following Cadee's first 3-pointer of the night at the 6:33 mark. The Anteater offense then went cold, scoring just one point the rest of the quarter. Long Beach State took advantage, pulling ahead 18-10.
 
The Beach (11-14, 6-6 Big West) kept the momentum early in the second period, going up 32-17 with 5:04 remaining in the half. Cadee then hit back-to-back triples to spark a 15-3 run that brought the 'Eaters within three (35-32) at the break. Talbert ended the rally with a baseline jumper at the buzzer.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively in the third frame before UCI used a 7-2 spurt to take its first lead since the opening quarter. It went back-and-forth over the next minute, but UC Irvine outscored LBSU, 9-3, down the stretch for a 52-46 margin. Talbert gave the visitors a boost in the final seconds once again, knocking down a trey with three ticks on the clock.
 
After Long Beach State cut the deficit to 54-51 early in the fourth, the Anteaters put their foot on the gas, taking their largest lead of the night, 68-56, on a Garza layup with 2:18 remaining. The cushion was more than enough for the 'Eaters who emerged with the 70-61 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns home to host Cal Poly in its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine notched its biggest comeback win of the year as it trailed by as many as 15 in the first half.
• The Anteaters have scored 70+ points in five of their last seven outings.
• They have won three in a row against Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid.
• The 'Eaters forced 20+ turnovers for the fifth time this season.
• Lauren Saiki ranks second in school history with 405 career assists.
• She is also second on UCI's single-season charts with 173 helpers.
• Saiki needs 17 more assists to break the 17-year old program record held by Lisa Faulkner (189).
• Jayde Cadee is now tops on the squad with 45 3-pointers made.
• Sophia Locandro led the 'Eaters in rebounding for the 14th time.
• Tahlia Garza is the ninth Anteater to reach double figures in scoring this season.