BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Chloe Webb had a career night to lead the UC Irvine women's basketball team to an 81-73 win over CSU Bakersfield Thursday evening at the Icardo Center.
 
Webb went 10-for-11 from the floor and was 6-of-8 at the free throw line for a career-best 26 points. She also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. The 5-foot-8 guard's 90.9% shooting performance is a single-game school record with at least 10 field goals made.
 
"Chloe Webb was tremendous with a near perfect game going 10-for-11 from the field," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "She was a big threat out there and was just really solid."
 
Overall, it was one of the Anteaters' best offensive showings of the year as they combined to shoot 53.6% (30-56) and finished with 14 assists. It was their highest field goal percentage against a Division I opponent this season.
 
"I thought it was a really solid team effort," Inoue added. "I'm really proud of the way they played together offensively, sharing the ball and finding the open shot. We had another good rebounding game as well."
 
BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Kayla Williams directed the offense as she had nine of UCI's 14 assists to tie her season high. Williams added 12 points and two steals.
 
Naomi Hunt also finished with 11 points (3-4 3FG), while Hunter Hernandez had nine points (4-4 FG). Tara Dusharm and Sophia Locandro each contributed seven points and six rebounds.
 
The 'Eaters outrebounded their opponent for the third-straight game, winning the battle on the glass, 41-34. They also held CSUB to 39.7% (27-68) shooting and a 16.7% (3-18) clip from beyond the arc. Jayden Eggleston paced the Roadrunners with 19 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (10-8, 5-2 Big West) took an early 7-2 lead following back-to-back 3-pointers from Hunt. The Anteaters kept rolling from there, going up, 18-8, on a Hernandez triple at the 2:33 mark. CSU Bakersfield then got some momentum back on its side with a four-point play, but UCI stayed out front by five (21-16) at the end of the first quarter.
 
It was all 'Eaters to start the second period as they used a 9-0 run in the first two minutes to increase their margin to 30-16. The Roadrunners (1-11, 0-3 Big West) pulled it back to single digits and were able to come within seven, but UC Irvine ended the half with a Williams layup and a Dusharm buzzer beater to take a 38-27 lead into the locker room.
 
The Anteaters took control again early in the third frame, scoring the first six points. They extended that into an 11-5 spurt for a 49-32 advantage with 5:54 to play. The 'Runners started to chip away with a 7-0 rally, but a layup by Locandro put UCI back on track as the visitors would pull ahead by 17 before closing out the quarter with a 64-48 cushion.
 
The 'Eaters maintained their double digit lead throughout most of the fourth quarter. They even took their largest lead of the night at 78-60 on a Williams 3-pointer with 4:57 remaining. CSU Bakersfield then made a late push, but it was too little, too late, as UC Irvine emerged with the 81-73 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine stays on the road this weekend, traveling to Cal Poly for a 2 p.m. Big West tilt on Saturday, Jan. 29.
 
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is tied for second in the conference standings, sitting one game behind Long Beach State.
• The Anteaters improved to 3-0 in Big West road games.
• Chloe Webb's 26 points and 10 field goals made are the most by an 'Eater this season.
• Kayla Williams knocked down a triple midway through the fourth quarter to extend her streak of games played with a 3FG made to 31.
• Williams has also reached double figures in scoring in 15 consecutive outings.
• Olivia Williams has had a season-high three steals in each of the last three games.
• UCI was outrebounded on the offensive glass by a Big West opponent for the first time in seven conference games.
• UC Irvine scored 80+ points for the third time this season, but first since Nov. 20.