CSU Bakersfield (3-5, 0-0 Big West) at
UC Irvine (8-3, 0-0 Big West)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 31
Time: 2 p.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 is set to open Big West play this weekend when it welcomes CSU Bakersfield to the Bren Events Center for a 2 p.m. showdown on Saturday, Dec. 31.
 
STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES
• UC Irvine is 3-2 all-time and 1-1 against Big West opponents when playing on New Year's Eve. UCI's last NYE game was a non-conference tilt against CSU Bakersfield in 2017 when the Roadrunners were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Anteaters defeated the 'Runners, 72-59, in Bakersfield. The last time they started their conference slate on Dec. 31 was in 2011.
 
• The 'Eaters enter Big West play with a conference-leading 8-3 overall record. It is also the program's best 11-game start since 2018-19 when they were 9-2. UC Irvine's early success has not gone unnoticed as it was ranked 21st in the latest College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll, and had been receiving votes the previous five weeks (Nov. 22-Dec. 20).
 
• Ten of the Anteaters' 12 active players are averaging 11.0+ minutes per game. They have a balanced scoring attack with half of their roster averaging at least 6.0 points per outing. Eight 'Eaters have also registered at least one double-figure scoring game this year, while they have had seven different scoring leaders through the first 11 contests. Naomi Hunt is tops on the squad with 11.1 ppg.
 
• In the last four non-conference games, sophomore Hunter Hernandez averaged  a team-leading 15.0 points and 5.8 rebounds, while shooting 58% from the field, 71% from beyond the arc and 83% at the free throw line. She had two 20-point performances and two double-doubles during that stretch. They were the first of her career and first for the 'Eaters this season. On Dec. 14, the 5-foot-9 guard earned the start against Westcliff and finished with a career-best 20 points (7-10 FG, 5-5 FT) and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Three days later, Hernandez was at it again going 7-of-10 from the field (3-4 3FG) for 20 points vs. Dartmouth. In last week's 64-51 victory over Grand Canyon, she also notched 13 points and a career-high tying 10 boards.
 
• UCI ranks first in The Big West and is among the top-20 in all of NCAA Division I in scoring defense (9th, 52.3 ppg), steals per game (9th, 12.9 spg) and turnovers forced (18th, 22.4/gm). The Anteaters held nine of their 11 non-conference opponents to under 60 points and have given up fewer than 10 points in a quarter 13 times. They also lead the conference in scoring margin (12.6), FG% defense (36.6%), blocks (4.5 bpg) and turnover margin (5.6).
 
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
CSU Bakersfield (3-5, 0-0 Big West) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 54-41 victory over Pacific in its non-conference finale on Dec. 22. The Roadrunners will kick off Big West action Thursday evening against UC Riverside. Sophia Tougas leads CSUB in scoring at 9.8 points per outing, while Hennie Van Schaik has pulled down a team-best 5.8 rebounds per contest.
 
SERIES RECORD
UC Irvine trails in its all-time series with CSU Bakersfield, 12-7, but has won three in a row and five of the last six. UCI swept the 2022 regular-season series, defeating the Roadrunners 81-73 in Bakersfield, and 67-52 at the Bren Events Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine closed out non-conference play with a milestone victory as it defeated Grand Canyon, 64-51, last Wednesday for seventh-year head coach Tamara Inoue's 100th career win. Inoue is the second coach in program history to reach the century mark. GCU, which was ranked 20th in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll, came into the game averaging 80.0 ppg and shooting 46.6%, but was stifled by UCI's defense, being held to under 60 points and below 40% shooting for the first time this season. The Anteaters trailed by as many as 10 in the first half and were down nine at intermission before turning it around in the third quarter where they outscored the Lopes, 22-5. Hunter Hernandez registered her second double-double with 13 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds. Diaba Konate led all players with 15 points, while Olivia Williams also reached double figures in scoring with 11 points (3-4 FG). The 'Eaters shot 37% from the field, 31% from long distance and 83% at the charity stripe. They scored nearly half of their points from the foul line where they were 30-for-36.
 
100 AND COUNTING
Seventh-year head coach Tamara Inoue earned her 100th career win in the non-conference finale against Grand Canyon on Dec. 21. Inoue is the second coach in program history to reach the century mark as she ranks second on the all-time wins list behind only Dean Andrea (158), who spent 13 years at the helm from 1978-1991. Inoue, the 2021 co-Big West Coach of the Year has led the 'Eaters to two of the program's three national postseason tournaments and two of their four 20-win campaigns.

IN THE RANKINGS
UC Irvine has cracked the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Top-25 for the first time since 2018-19. The Anteaters are 21st in the latest rankings after receiving votes the previous five weeks. They are 3-0 against teams that are currently ranked or receiving votes.
 
HOME COOKING
Since 2017-18, UC Irvine is 52-20 (.722) at the Bren Events Center. The Anteaters are a perfect 4-0 at home this year and have won 10 consecutive games at the Bren dating back to last season.
 
DEFENSIVE MINDED
The Anteaters rank ninth in all of NCAA Division I with 12.9 steals per game. They have had 10+ takeaways in eight of their 11 outings, while three different players have registered five steals in a game this year. UCI is also among the top-20 in the nation in scoring defense (9th, 52.3 ppg) and turnovers forced (18th, 22.4). The 'Eaters have held 10 of their 11 opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter and have given up fewer than 60 points on nine occasions.
 
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.
 
BRINGING THE ENERGY
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, the Anteaters welcomed students from eight local elementary schools for Kids Day, and they did not disappoint, routing Westcliff University, 85-37. There was an electric energy in the Bren as UCI women's basketball brought in over 1,000 fans for the first time since 2011, and the recorded attendance of 1,101 was the sixth-best in program history.
 
DOWN TO THE WIRE
UC Irvine had four non-conference games that were 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.
 
FROM THE LINE
After shooting just 65% from the free throw line through its first four games, UCI has seen a significant improvement since Nov. 25, bumping its percentage up to 75%. Through their last seven outings, the 'Eaters have gone 81% (76-94) at the charity stripe. Individually, Diaba Konate leads the team and ranks second in The Big West with an 88% clip.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Sophomore Hunter Hernandez notched her first double-double in her first start of the season with career-highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds against Westcliff on Dec. 14. Three days later, she matched that point total in a 72-57 win over Dartmouth. The 5-foot-9 guard also had 13 points and 10 boards in last Wednesday's victory vs. Grand Canyon. Over the last four games, Hernandez is averaging 15.0 points and 5.8 rebounds, while shooting 58% overall, 71% from long distance and 83% at the free throw line.
 
HUNTING MILESTONES
Naomi Hunt has reached two 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 208 threes and currently sits at 1,143 points with 803 in her three seasons at Long Beach State and 340 in her time at UC Irvine. Hunt, who netted a season-high 18 points vs. Dartmouth on Dec. 17, is tops on the squad in scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.1 rpg).
 
GIVE AND TAKE
Junior transfer Diaba Konate leads the team and ranks among the top-three in The Big West in both assists (4.1 apg) and steals (2.8 spg) per game. Konate has dished out  3+ dimes in each of her last seven outings, including a season-high seven vs. LIU on Nov. 25. She has also registered at least one steal in all nine 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 9.8 points per contest. She has reached double figures five times with a season-high 16 points at Sacramento State (Nov. 12).
 
COURT PRESENCE
Sophomore Nikki Tom has been a steady presence on the court for UCI, starting every game and averaging 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals. She is tied for the team lead with five double-figure scoring performances, including a career-high 18 points on a near perfect performance where she was 6-of-7 from the field (4-4 3FG) vs. LIU on Nov. 25. In addition, the 5-foot-9 point guard finished with a career-high five steals and six assists vs. Westcliff on Dec. 14.
 
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 (910) needs 90 more points to join the 1K club.
 
WILLIAMS FOR THREE
Sophomore Olivia Williams, who has five games with multiple 3FG made, ranks second on the squad with 16 triples. She went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc for a career-high 16 points at Seattle U. The 6-foot-1 guard also reached double figures with 15 points vs. Westcliff,14 vs. Whittier and 11 vs. GCU. She is averaging 8.5 ppg.
 
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 notched eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 18 minutes of action. Lee reached double figures in scoring again at Seattle U (12), at Eastern Washington (11) and vs. Westcliff (11). She added a career-best six assists against the Warriors.
 
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 is back at the Bren next Thursday, Jan. 5, when it plays host to UC Davis at 7 p.m.