SEATTLE - The UC Irvine women's basketball team led for 30 minutes but had to rally late for a 54-53 win over Seattle U Saturday afternoon at the Redhawk Center.
 
The Anteaters (3-1) saw their 10-point lead early in the third quarter disappear as SU came all the way back to go up, 53-49, with 1:15 remaining. Sophomore Olivia Williams answered with her fourth 3-pointer of the game to cut the deficit to one with just under a minute to go. After a couple defensive stops, sophomore Nikki Tom found junior Nevaeh Parkinson down low for the go-ahead layup.
 
With 4.2 seconds on the clock, the Redhawks (0-4) had one more chance but graduate transfer Nyagoa Gony came up with a big block.
 

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— UCI Women's Basketball (@UCIwbb) November 19, 2022

 
BY THE NUMBERS: Williams paced UC Irvine with a game and career-high 16 points. She was 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Déja Lee also had 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore Hunter Hernandez added seven points and four boards, while Gony finished with a team-best six rebounds and a career-high tying four blocks.
 
Tom continued to have a steady presence on the court with four points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
UCI shot just 30% from the field, but continued to capitalize on its defensive effort, scoring 27 points off 27 forced turnovers.
 
Peyton Howard was the Redhawks' top performer with 14 points and six rebounds. SU shot 43% overall, 55% from 3-point range and 78% at the free throw line.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine raced out to an 11-2 lead following a four-point play from Lee. The Anteaters increased their cushion to 19-4 at the 4:13 mark, but Seattle U scored the final five points of the first quarter to make it a 10-point game.
 
The Redhawks kept the momentum in the second quarter, extending their run to 12-0 before Williams ended a five-minute UCI scoring drought with a three. SU continued to chip away, eventually tying it up at 24-all and taking its first lead of the game at 31-30 with 1:54 remaining. The 'Eaters pulled even in the final minute with Gony making 1-of-2 free throws for a 31-31 deadlock heading into the break.
 
UC Irvine started the second half similar to the way it started the first, scoring 10-straight points. Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers, while Lee also connected from long distance to spark the rally. Seattle U then held the Anteaters scoreless over the final 4:46 and cut its deficit to 44-41 by the end of the third frame.
 
The 'Eaters went up by five on a couple Gony free throws early in the fourth, but the Redhawks responded with a 10-1 spurt for a 51-47 advantage. The two teams traded buckets before Williams knocked down a clutch triple to bring UCI within one (53-52) with just under a minute to go. After a couple defensive stops, including a missed layup and an offensive foul, UC Irvine called a timeout to draw up one more play as it had 10 seconds to work with, and that play was executed beautifully. Tom delivered a perfect entry pass to Parkinson on the block for the game-winning layup.
 
Seattle U had one more chance with 4.2 ticks on the clock but Gony had a huge block for the 54-53 win.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center next Friday, Nov. 25, when it plays host to Long Island University. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine's last three games have all been decided by two points or less.
• The Anteaters have forced 22+ turnovers in every game this year and are now averaging 26.0 per outing.
• UCI has held each of its first four opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter.
• Déja Lee earned her first start of the season and fourth of her career.
• Lee knocked down a career-high three 3-pointers.
• Olivia Williams also drained a career-best four triples.
• Naomi Hunt made the 100th start of her collegiate career.