IRVINE, Calif. - The final score appeared to be a lot closer than the game actually was as the UC Irvine women's basketball team saw its 22-point lead cut down to single digits in the final three minutes of a 68-60 win over Cal State Fullerton Saturday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (11-6, 9-2 Big West) swept the Titans for the third time in the last four years. They were dominant for most of the game and really put their foot on the gas early in the fourth quarter, taking their largest lead at 59-37 with 7:08 to go. UCI would match that 22-point advantage three more times before the Titans rallied down the stretch.
 
UC Irvine, which shot over 40% from the field for the third-straight game, saw a drastic improvement at the free throw line from Friday (56%), as it went 13-of-14 at the charity stripe.
 
"I loved what we did tonight," said senior Alexus Seaton, who registered her 16th career double-figure scoring game. "We struggled from the free throw line the other night and today we were 92%, so that was a plus. Our defense was also better. We dipped a little bit but picked it back up in the end. We still have to work on our fourth quarter, but we are happy to get the win."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Chloe Webb led UC Irvine with 17 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. She was 8-for-12 from the field. Senior Haleigh Talbert also finished with 13 points (5-10 FG), five boards and three assists, while senior Alexus Seaton added 11 points.
 
Sophomore Sophia Locandro chipped in eight points and nine rebounds, and redshirt freshman Kayla Williams had seven points, three assists and two steals.
 
The Anteaters shot 45% overall, and won the battle in rebounding (36-35), turnovers forced (18-17) and steals (12-10).
 
CSF ended the game shooting 39% from the floor and 69% at the foul line. Carolyn Gill paced the visitors with 16 points and nine rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: It was a seesaw battle in the opening minutes with two lead changes and two tie scores. Webb, who accounted for UC Irvine's first nine points, broke a 7-7 deadlock with an offensive board and putback. The Anteaters continued on a 13-3 run, capped by back-to-back buckets from Talbert, to pull ahead, 20-10, at the 1:47 mark. Cal State Fullerton answered with five-straight points to cut the 'Eater lead in half by the end of the first quarter.
 
The Titans (2-16, 1-13 Big West) made it a three-point game with the first basket of the second period, but a corner three by sophomore Jayde Cadee sparked an 8-0 rally that put UCI on top, 28-17, with 5:54 remaining in the half. The two teams traded blows the rest of the way with the Anteaters maintaining a 32-22 advantage at the break.
 
UC Irvine stayed out front in the third and started to pull away after reeling off eight unanswered points. A Talbert jumper sandwiched between an and-1 from Seaton and a 3-pointer from Williams made it 46-29 at the 5:10 mark. CSF was able to keep it within 14 after a Gill triple with eight seconds on the clock.
 
The Anteaters then opened the fourth frame with a 9-1 spurt to increase their margin to 59-37 with 7:08 remaining. They held on to a 20-point cushion up until the three-minute mark when the Titans went on a 17-3 run. Despite the late push from Fullerton, UCI's lead was never actually threatened as they came out with the 68-60 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will make its way south for a pair of Big West games at UC San Diego, Feb. 26-27.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 9-2 in Big West play for the first time since 2017-18.
• The Anteaters have won eight of their last nine against the Titans and now lead the all-time series, 44-39.
• UCI saw a drastic improvement at the FT line as they shot 92% (13-14) tonight compared to 56% (18-32) on Friday.
• The 'Eaters have forced 17+ turnovers in 14-straight games.
• UC Irvine is 9-1 when it has three or more players score in double figures.
• Chloe Webb tied her season high with 17 points, and had her team-leading fifth game with 10+ rebounds.
• Webb has led the Anteaters on the boards in eight of the last 10 contests.
• Haleigh Talbert extended her double-figure scoring streak to five games.
• Jayde Cadee had her 19th career game with multiple threes made.
• Victoria Baker notched a season-high five steals.