SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Redshirt freshman Kayla Williams scored a career-high 32 points to lift UC Irvine to a 79-70 overtime victory against Cal Poly Saturday at Mott Athletics Center.
 
Williams went 7-for-11 from beyond the arc, including a couple of clutch threes late in the fourth quarter and overtime.
 
"Kayla really steps up in the big moments; she loves and breathes those big moments," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "We've seen that throughout her high school and club career, and we see that with this team now. She just wants to win and that is a big piece to why she's so successful. She really carried us through overtime."
 
After the Mustangs took their first lead of the afternoon at 62-60 with 1:32 remaining in regulation, Williams connected from the right wing to give the Anteaters the advantage. The two teams would end the fourth in a 64-64 deadlock, but a layup from Haleigh Talbert and another trey from Williams to start the extra period put the 'Eaters out front for good. CP was able to cut its deficit to 71-70 with one minute on the clock before Williams knocked down her seventh triple to ultimately put the game away.
 
UC Irvine (7-5, 4-0 Big West) completed its third-straight regular-season series sweep of the Mustangs.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Williams' 32 points are the most by an Anteater since teammate Sophia Locandro had a career-high 34 against Hawai'i on Feb. 27, 2020. Williams was 10-of-22 from the field (7-11 3FG) and 5-for-6 at the free throw line. She also had five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
Sophomore Chloe Webb narrowly missed her second-straight double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Locandro added 11 points on a 5-of-7 shooting performance. Sophomore Jayde Cadee and senior Haleigh Talbert chipped in nine points each.
 
The 'Eaters shot 47% overall, and made a season-high 12 3-pointers with a 48% clip from beyond the arc. They forced Cal Poly into 18 miscues and held a 20-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The Mustangs shot 41% from the floor and went 6-for-14 from long distance. Natalia Ackerman (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Sierra Campisano (13 points, 11 rebounds) both finished with a double-double.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine made four of its first five field goal attempts to race out to a 10-2 lead at the 7:38 mark. Williams and senior Dani Guglielmo sparked the strong start as they each connected from beyond the arc in the opening two minutes. Cal Poly responded with an 8-2 run to close the gap to two, but the Anteaters stayed hot from 3-point range for a 21-14 advantage. The 'Eaters shot 62% from the field and 57% from downtown, while committing only one turnover in the first quarter.
 
UCI kept the momentum early in the second period as a Talbert layup capped a 5-2 spurt that made it 26-16 with 8:51 remaining. After trading buckets over the next couple minutes, the Mustangs would score eight unanswered to bring it back to a two-point game with 2:48 to play in the half. Williams then knocked down a couple free throws to end a nearly four-minute scoring drought. UC Irvine continued to build on its advantage the rest of the way, heading into the locker room with a 35-28 margin.
 
The third frame started as a back-and-forth affair before threes from Williams and Cadee began a 9-2 rally that put the 'Eaters up, 53-39, at the 2:43 mark. CP would make a small dent in that lead by the end of the quarter (55-45).
 
Cal Poly (5-5, 1-3 Big West) scored the first two buckets of the fourth period, but Locandro answered with five-straight points for a 60-49 Anteater cushion with 7:53 remaining. The Mustangs then came storming back with a 13-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 62-60 with 1:32 to go. Williams responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession, but Maddie Willett's layup gave the home team a 64-63 edge with 37 seconds left.
 
On UCI's final possession, Webb was fouled with 7.9 seconds on the clock. After missing the first free throw, she calmly knocked down the second to tie it up. Cal Poly had a good look to win the game at the buzzer, but came up short, sending it to overtime.
 
The 'Eaters left no doubt in the extra period, outscoring the Mustangs, 15-6, for the nine-point victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns home to host Hawai'i in Big West action, Jan. 29-30.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is off to its first 4-0 start in Big West play since 1994-95.
• UCI is one of three Big West teams that remain undefeated in conference games.
• The Anteaters sit at the top of the standings with Long Beach State (6-0) and UC Davis (2-0).
• After two seasons without an OT game, the 'Eaters have gone to an extra period twice this year.
• It is the first time they have had multiple overtime games in a season since 2014-15.
• UCI committed only one turnover in the first quarter, and it came with 54 seconds on the clock.
• This is only the second time this season that UC Irvine used the same starting lineup in three-straight games.
• Kayla Williams' 32 points are tied for 11th in single-game school history.
• Williams has also led the 'Eaters in assists in every game this season.
• Chloe Webb has been the Anteaters' leading rebounder in each of the last four outings.
• Tahlia Garza is two boards away from joining the 500-rebound club.