SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team bounced back from a slow start to defeat San José State, 74-66, Wednesday evening at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
 
The Anteaters (5-4) went 2-for-24 from the field in the first quarter, but trailed by only two at the half. They regrouped at the break, scoring 51 points on 45% shooting over the final 20 minutes.
 
"This was our slowest start of the season, scoring four points in the first quarter, but ended up with 70 in the second, third and fourth," noted UCI head coach Tamara Inoue. "Collectively, I thought everyone came in and did a great job. We didn't shoot our best tonight, but defensively we got the stops we needed and continued to finish on the other side. I'm proud of the team; it's our first road win and those are always tough."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophia Locandro scored 14 of her team and season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. She went 8-for-11 from the field and also pulled down five rebounds. Naomi Hunt added 15 points (4-9 3FG) and five boards, while Kayla Williams finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Chloe Webb recorded her second double-double of the year with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
"Naomi really caught fire in the third quarter to get us going, and Sophia did a great job in the fourth quarter of sustaining it," added Inoue. "Chloe was solid with another double-double, and Kayla did a really good job in the second half, taking care of the ball and finishing the game for us."
 
The 'Eaters closed out the night shooting at a 38% clip, while the Spartans finished at 37%. UCI dominated the boards, outrebounding SJSU, 55-32, and owning a 24-to-8 advantage on the offensive glass.

Cydni Lewis paced the Spartans with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Both teams got out to a slow start with UC Irvine holding a 4-2 lead midway through the first quarter. The Anteaters came up empty the rest of the way, but San José State was only able to pull ahead, 6-4, after 10 minutes of action. UCI and SJSU combined to go 5-for-36 (14%) from the field.
 
San José State (3-7) opened the second period with the first 3-pointer of the game and proceeded to go up, 16-6, at the 7:34 mark. Webb then ended a two-minute scoring drought for the 'Eaters, who continued on a 15-4 run to take a 21-20 advantage with 3:07 left in the half. The Spartans went back on top with another triple and carried a 25-23 lead into the break.
 
Hunt got UC Irvine out to a great start in the third, knocking down a three just 12 seconds into the frame. She added two more over the next few minutes to help the Anteaters build a 38-30 cushion at the 6:24 mark. After SJSU cut the deficit to two, Williams scored five-straight points to start a 13-3 spurt that put the 'Eaters up, 51-39. San José State then made another push to end the quarter down by seven (52-45).
 
It was the Sophia Locandro show in the fourth as she scored UCI's first 10 points before Williams drained a three for a 65-52 lead. UC Irvine increased that margin to 14 (69-55) with just under four minutes to go, and held off another late Spartan rally for the 74-66 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine closes out its non-conference slate in Arizona next week, traveling to Pac-12 member ASU (Dec. 21) and Grand Canyon (Dec. 23)
 
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine picked up its first win away from the Bren Events Center.
• The Anteaters have won three in a row against the Spartans and now lead the all-time series, 19-12.
• Sophia Locandro made her 50th consecutive start (52 career starts).
• Naomi Hunt knocked down an individual and team season-high four 3-pointers.
• It was her fourth outing with multiple threes, and her third double-figure scoring performance in the last four contests.
• Kayla Williams notched her seventh-straight game with 10+ points.
• She has reached double figures in 26 of 32 career games played.