FRESNO, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team (5-2) dropped a 53-44 decision to Fresno State Sunday afternoon at Save Mart Center.
 
It was the Anteaters' first game after finals week as they were last in action on Dec. 1.

The 'Eaters started slow after the layoff with the Bulldogs scoring the first seven points of the game. UCI was able to cut the deficit to two by the end of the opening quarter, but Fresno won the second period, 22-9. Despite a late rally, UC Irvine was unable to dig itself out of the hole for its second loss of the season, and first since Nov. 17.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Diaba Konate led the Anteaters with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a season-high five steals. Graduate student Naomi Hunt added nine points and seven boards, while Fresno native Nikki Tom also finished with five points and six rebounds.
 
Sophomore Hunter Hernandez and graduate student Nyagoa Gony contributed four points and five boards each.
 
UCI outrebounded Fresno State, 36-25, but the Bulldogs held the advantage in field goal percentage (41%-to-34%), 3-pointers made (10-3) and turnovers forced (17-14).
 
Amaya West paced the 'Dogs with a game-high 19 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Fresno State (6-5) scored the first seven points of the game before UC Irvine got on the board with a Konate layup at the 5:47 mark. The Bulldogs stayed out front, but 3-pointers from Tom and Hernandez made it a 12-10 game at the end of the opening quarter.
 
The 'Dogs knocked down back-to-back threes to start the second period. After a Hunt jumper, Fresno State proceeded on a 14-5 run to pull ahead, 32-17, with 43 seconds remaining in the half. The Bulldogs were able to maintain the 15-point advantage thanks to a buzzer beater from West that put them on top, 34-19, at the break.
 
Fresno State began the third frame with its seventh triple to take its largest lead at 37-19. The Anteaters tried to chip away but the closest they would get was 11 on a bucket from Konate at the 1:34 mark. The 'Dogs then went back on top by 13 with another late jumper from West.
 
The 'Eaters started to rally in the fourth but the Bulldogs came through with a few clutch shots to hold on for the win. Hunt started the scoring with a three and UCI continued on a 9-2 run to close the gap to six (47-41) with just under six minutes to go.
 
UC Irvine then entered a nearly three-minute scoring drought, and Fresno State's Yanina Todorova made a 3-pointer during that stretch to put the home team up, 50-41. Junior Nevaeh Parkinson got the Anteaters back on the board with a layup before Amiee Book connected from deep to put the game out of reach.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center on Wednesday, Dec. 14, when it plays host to NAIA member Westcliff. It is an early 11 a.m. tip-off for Kids Day in which local elementary schools have been invited to attend as part of a field trip.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has held six of its seven opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter.
• This was the Anteaters' first loss when holding their opponent to under 60 points this season (4-1).
• It also marked the first time they haven't taken a lead in a game this year.
• The 'Eaters have won the battle on the boards in each of their last three outings.
• Diaba Konate went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, extending her streak to 14 consecutive free throws made.
• Konate has reached double figures in scoring in back-to-back games and has led the team in assists in the last three.