IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team led by as many as 26 in a convincing 76-59 Big West-opening win over UC Davis Thursday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (6-6, 1-0 Big West) looked dominant in a rematch of last year's Big West Tournament championship game. They made 11 3-pointers, five of which came in the second quarter where they outscored the Aggies, 27-14. UCI then withstood a late UCD run for the 17-point victory.
 
"(UC Davis) is a well-oiled machine and defending champions for a reason," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "They run their stuff really well, so we had to be sure to make it a little tougher on them and not let them get anything easy."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Chloe Webb matched her season high with 16 points to lead four 'Eaters in double figures. She also had five rebounds, two steals and a career-best six assists. Sophia Locandro finished with 14 points and seven boards, while Kayla Williams and Olivia Williams both had 12 points each. Kayla added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
The Anteaters shot 40% overall, 42% from 3-point range and 85% at the free throw line. They forced the Aggies into 18 turnovers, while committing only nine of their own, and won the battle on the boards, 39-32. UCI also held a lopsided advantage in points off turnovers (16-0) and second chance points (17-7).
 
Cierra Hall paced UCD with 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Davis (6-5, 0-1 Big West) took an early 5-0 lead before Webb got UC Irvine on the board with a pair of free throws at the 6:09 mark. The Anteaters then used a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Melodie Kapinga putback, to go up 9-7. The two teams traded points over the next two minutes before Olivia Williams closed out the quarter with a 3-pointer to put UCI on top, 14-11.
 
The 'Eaters kept the momentum in the second period, scoring the first eight points and extending their hot start into a 20-4 run to pull ahead by 19 with five minutes remaining. Kayla Williams, Jayde Cadee, Olivia Williams and Nikki Tom all knocked down a triple during that stretch. UCD would close the gap to 13 before Webb also connected from beyond the arc, giving the home team a 41-25 lead at the break.
 
UC Irvine continued to pour it on in the third frame, scoring 11 of the first 12 points to go up, 52-26, at the 5:23 mark. After both teams drained a three, it was the Aggies who would regain some momentum, closing out the period with a 9-0 rally to cut their deficit to 55-38.
 
UC Davis kept chipping away in the fourth, coming within 11 after back-to-back treys, but that was the closest the visitors would get as the Anteaters responded by going 5-for-6 at the free throw line. Olivia Williams' baseline jumper and a corner three from Webb in the final minutes then put the game well out of reach.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in the Bren Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, when it plays host to UC Riverside at 2 p.m.
 
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine used a different starting lineup for the first time this season. 
• The 'Eaters improved to 3-1 when they have four players score in double figures.
• The Anteaters' 17-point win was their largest margin of victory in both their all-time series with UC Davis, and in Big West openers.
• UCI's 11 threes were the most it has made against a Division I opponent this year.
• The 'Eaters are the third team to score 70+ against the Aggies as they entered tonight's contest allowing 59.3 ppg.
• With her two 3-pointers tonight, Jayde Cadee moved into a tie for ninth on UCI's all-time charts in career threes made (108).
• Despite not playing in the fourth quarter, Kayla Williams still recorded her 10th-straight double-figure scoring game.
• UC Irvine was playing its first game since Dec. 23, while it was the first for UC Davis since Dec. 19.