IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team dropped a 75-64 decision to the University of San Diego Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (4-4) led by one at the half, but were outscored, 39-27, over the final 20 minutes. A big third quarter proved to be the difference for the Toreros (7-2) as they built a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Kayla Williams finished with a game-high 17 points to go along with three assists and two steals. Chloe Webb also had 16 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes played. Webb was 4-for-5 from the field and 8-of-11 at the free throw line. Olivia Williams added eight points, while Hunter Hernandez registered six points, five boards and two assists.
 
UCI shot 42% (23-55) from the field, but was just 20% (4-20) from behind the arc and 67% (14-21) at the charity stripe. The Toreros, meanwhile, closed out the game at 40% overall, 41% (7-17) from long distance and 61% (20-33) at the foul line. The visitors won the battle in rebounds (40-32) and turnovers forced (19-15).
 
Steph Gorman paced USD with 16 points on four made threes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine struck first on a Naomi Hunt jumper and pulled ahead 7-4 following a pair of free throws from Webb at the 6:30 mark. San Diego then used a 6-1 spurt to take its first lead of the game, and proceeded to go up, 16-13. Williams answered with her third triple starting a 9-3 run that put the Anteaters on top, 22-19, with just over a minute remaining, but USD was able to close the gap to one (22-21) by the end of the quarter.
 
It remained close in the second period with neither team leading by more than two before an 8-2 rally gave the Toreros a 36-31 advantage at the 2:43 mark. Five of their points during that stretch came at the charity stripe. The 'Eaters would storm back over the final two-and-a-half minutes with six-straight points to take a 37-36 lead into the break.
 
It went back-and-forth to start the third frame with seven lead changes over the first three minutes. The seventh lead change ended up being the final one as San Diego started to create some separation. After USD pulled ahead, 60-47, Nikki Tom drained a corner three at the buzzer to bring it back within 10.
 
The Toreros went up by 14 midway through the fourth quarter before a putback by Melodie Kapinga sparked an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to 70-62 with 1:26 left to play. San Diego then delivered the dagger on a lucky play where Gorman threw up a wild shot from behind the arc that went in, beating the shot clock buzzer.  
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine begins a five-game road stretch next Wednesday, Dec. 15, traveling to Santa Cruz, California, to take on San Jose State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
 
 
NOTES
• This was UC Irvine's first double-digit loss of the season.
• UCI has had at least two players score 10+ points in every game.
• The Anteaters were outscored in bench points for only the second time.
• The 'Eaters committed a season-high 19 turnovers.
• Kayla Williams had her sixth-straight double figure scoring performance.
• She reached double digits in the first quarter where she had 11 of her game-high 17 points.
• Chloe Webb's 16 points were a season high and her fifth double-figure scoring game of the year.