Anteaters Return Home for Kids Day Against Westcliff

Wednesday, December 14

Irvine, Calif.

11:00 AM

UC Irvine

Westcliff University

Anteaters Return Home for Kids Day Against Westcliff

December 12, 2022 | Women's Basketball

ESPN+Listen on KUCI Live Stats Game Notes

Westcliff (7-2) at
UC Irvine (5-2)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 14
Time: 11 a.m. (PST)
Location: Bren Events Center (5,000) - Irvine, Calif.
* UC Irvine Athletics is utilizing mobile ticketing and a clear bag policy.

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center this week as it plays host to NAIA member Westcliff on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The Anteaters and Warriors are set for an early 11 a.m. tip-off for Kids Day in which local elementary schools have been invited to the game as part of a field trip.

STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES
• UCI has a road-heavy non-conference schedule with seven of its 11 games taking place away from Irvine. The 'Eaters are back in the Bren Events Center this week for just the third time this season. They will be looking to improve to 3-0 on their home court, and to extend their home win streak to eight. UC Irvine's last home loss came on Jan. 22, 2022.

• The Anteaters enter the week with the best overall record in The Big West at 5-2. It is also their best start since 2018-19 when they opened the campaign with seven consecutive wins. UC Irvine was dealt its second loss of the season, and first since a double overtime setback at Pac-12 member Washington (Nov. 17), this past Sunday at Fresno State. UCI's early success has not gone unnoticed as it was receiving votes in each of the last three College Insider Women's Mid-Major Polls (Nov. 25-Dec. 6).

• The 'Eaters lead The Big West in 11 statistical categories, and rank among the top-20 in all of NCAA Division I in steals per game (7th, 13.6), turnover margin (17th, 7.3) and turnovers forced per game (18th, 22.9). UCI forced 20+ turnovers in each of its first five contests with a season-high 28 at Sacramento State and at Washington.

• UC Irvine is also tops in The Big West and ranks 28th in the nation in scoring defense at 54.3 points allowed per game. The Anteaters have held six of their seven opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter, and gave up fewer than 60 points five times (4-1). In the season opener, they kept Whittier College off the scoreboard in the third frame of a 98-33 victory, marking the first time UCI has not allowed a point in a 10-minute period since the NCAA switched to quarters in 2015-16.

• The Anteaters have won the battle on the boards four times this season, including in each of their last three outings. On Sunday, UC Irvine outrebounded Fresno State, 36-25. The 'Eaters rank first in the conference in rebounds per game (38.3), offensive rebounds (15.3/game) and rebounding margin (3.0). It has been a collective effort with Naomi Hunt and Nikki Tom leading the way at 5.6 and 5.3 rebounds per contest, respectively. Nyagoa Gony and Hunter Hernandez are also averaging 4+ boards per game.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Westcliff University, which is riding a six-game winning streak, is 7-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0 on the road. Wednesday will be an exhibition contest for the Warriors, who are members of the NAIA's California Pacific Conference. Westcliff is coming off a 2021-22 campaign in which it went 14-12, advanced to the Cal Pac championship game and made an appearance in the NAIA Tournament. Reigning conference player of the year, Trinity Vasquez, leads the squad with 19.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.

SERIES RECORD
UC Irvine leads in its all-time series with Westcliff, 2-0. The Anteaters defeated the Warriors, 93-41 on Jan. 6, 2020, and 114-53, in last year's season opener on Nov. 9, 2021.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine dropped a 53-44 decision to Fresno State this past Sunday at the 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 following 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 the 'Dogs 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. Diaba Konate led the Anteaters with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a season-high five steals. Naomi Hunt added nine points and seven boards, while Fresno native Nikki Tom also finished with five points and six rebounds. Hunter Hernandez and Nyagoa Gony contributed four points and five boards each. UCI outrebounded Fresno State, 36-25, but the Bulldogs held the advantage in FG percentage (41%-to-34%), 3-pointers made (10-3) and turnovers forced (17-14).

TURNOVER TALK
The Anteaters forced 20+ turnovers in each of their first five games with a season-high 28 at Sacramento State and at Washington. As of Dec. 12, UCI ranks among the top-20 in all of NCAA Division I in steals per game (7th, 13.6), turnover margin (17th, 7.3) and turnovers forced per game (18th, 22.9). Since 2016-17, the 'Eaters have been one of the top teams in The Big West in turnovers forced with 17.9 per game.

QUARTER RECORDS
The 'Eaters outscored Whittier, 26-0, in the third period of their 98-33 season-opening win. It was the first time in program history UCI held its opponent scoreless in a quarter (since 2015-16). The previous school record was one point allowed in the third frame against Life Pacific on Nov. 7, 2018. UC Irvine was the third NCAA Division I team to blank its opponent in a quarter to start the 2022-23 season.

COUNTDOWN TO 100
Head coach Tamara Inoue needs three more victories to hit the 100-win milestone. She is the second-winningest coach in program history (97). The 2021 co-Big West Coach of the Year has led the 'Eaters to two of their four 20-win campaigns, including a school-record tying 21 last year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
UCI has become accustomed to being on the road as it is has played five of its seven games away from Irvine. The 'Eaters are currently 3-2 in road contests as they defeated Sacramento State, Seattle U and EWU, while falling to Pac-12 member Washington and Fresno State. Overall, seven of the Anteaters' 11 non-conference games are on the road.

CARDIAC KIDS
Four of UC Irvine's last six games have been decided by two points or less. At Sacramento State (Nov. 12), Diaba Konate hit the game-winning jumper with 0.2 ticks on the clock to lift the Anteaters to the 60-58 win. In a 54-53 victory at Seattle U on Nov. 19, it was Nevaeh Parkinson who finished the go-ahead layup with 4.2 seconds remaining. In addition, UCI's 62-60 double overtime loss at Pac-12 member Washington (Nov. 17) was won by the Huskies with nine seconds to go. On Dec. 1, the 'Eaters got it done on the defensive end with a stop on EWU's final possession to secure the 67-65 triumph.

HUNTING MILESTONES
Naomi Hunt has reached two significant milestones in her time at UCI as she eclipsed 1,000 career points last season and surpassed 200 career 3-pointers made in the win at Eastern Washington on Dec. 1. The graduate student has knocked down 202 threes and currently sits at 1,111 points with 803 in her three seasons at Long Beach State and 308 in her time at UC Irvine. Hunt, who has netted a season-high 17 points on three occasions, is tops on the squad in scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg).

GIVE AND TAKE
Junior transfer Diaba Konate has made an immediate impact in her first year at UC Irvine as she leads the team and ranks among the top-three in The Big West in assists (4.2 apg) and steals (2.8 spg) per game. Konate has dished out 5+ dimes in each of her last three outings, including a season-high seven vs. LIU on Nov. 25. She has also registered at least one steal in all six of her appearances, with a season-best five takeaways at Fresno State (Dec. 11). The Paris, France, native, has been one of UCI's top offensive threats as well, ranking second on the squad in scoring at 10.8 points per outing. She has reached double figures four times with a season-high 16 points at Sacramento State (Nov. 12). Konate is shooting 47% from the field and a Big West-leading 89% at the charity stripe.

MISS CONSISTENCY
Sophomore Nikki Tom has been a steady presence on the court for UCI, averaging 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She also leads the 'Eater guards in field goal percentage (51%) and ranks second in 3FG percentage (45%). Tom has reached double figures in scoring four times this year with a career-high 18 points on a 6-of-7 shooting performance (4-4 3FG) vs. LIU on Nov. 25. In addition, the 5-foot-9 point guard finished with a season-high five assists and a career-best four steals in a 54-53 victory at Seattle U. Her fifth dime came on the game-winning play as she delivered a perfect entry pass to Nevaeh Parkinson for the go-ahead layup in the final seconds.

ON THE HORIZON
Diaba Konate, who dished out her 300th career assist at Eastern Washington on Dec. 1, is approaching another benchmark as she is on pace to reach 1,000 points. Konate (887) needs 113 more points to join the 1K club.

LATE GAME IMPACT
Graduate transfer Nyagoa Gony played a key defensive role in UC Irvine's wins at Sac State and Seattle U. Against the Hornets, the 6-foot-3 forward had three of her career-high four blocks during a 15-2 fourth-quarter run that gave the Anteaters a late 58-56 advantage, which was their first lead since the opening minute of the game. Gony's fourth block at Seattle U also came on the last play of the contest to seal the 54-53 victory for the 'Eaters. Gony ranks second in The Big West with 13 total blocks (1.9/game).

WILLIAMS FOR THREE
Sophomore Olivia Williams found her stroke at Seattle U where she finished with a game and career-high 16 points. Williams topped her previous best of 14 from the season opener against Whittier. The 6-foot-1 guard went 6-of-12 from the field and drained a career-high four 3-pointers on eight attempts against the Redhawks. Williams is tied for second on the team with nine threes made and ranks fourth with 8.0 points per outing.

OPENING STATEMENT
Sophomore Déja Lee had the best game of her young career in UCI's season-opening win over Whittier College. Lee came off the bench to lead all players with a career-high 16 points (7-9 FG). She also set career bests with eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 18 minutes of action. Lee reached double figures in scoring again at Seattle U (12) and at Eastern Washington (11).

HOME COOKING
Since 2017-18, UC Irvine is 49-20 (.710) at the Bren Events Center. In 2021-22, 12 of the Anteaters' school-record tying 21 victories came at home, and they owned a +10.0 scoring margin in games at the Bren. Dating back to last year, UCI has won eight consecutive home games.

OVERTIME NOTES
UC Irvine played its first double overtime game in more than 40 years at the University of Washington on Nov. 17. The Anteaters had not gone to a second extra period since Jan. 3, 1981, when they edged Army, 84-82. UCI has gone to OT seven times (4-3) in seventh-year head coach Tamara Inoue's tenure.

2021-22 HIGHLIGHTS
Last year, UCI set a program record with 14 conference victories and tied a 37-year old school record with 21 overall wins. It was the Anteaters' second 20-win campaign in four seasons. They also advanced to The Big West championship game for the second year in a row and earned the program's first postseason WNIT bid.

BIG WEST DOMINANCE
No team has been better in Big West regular-season play over the last two years than UC Irvine. The 'Eaters are coming off back-to-back four-loss campaigns, combining for a conference-leading 25-8 record. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, UCI had the most victories in league play, but finished second based on win percentage.

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will make the short trip to fellow Big West member Long Beach State for the Beach Classic, Dec. 16-17. The Anteaters are set to square off against Southern Miss on Friday and Dartmouth on Saturday.