LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's water polo played a tough contest Thursday afternoon at Burns Aquatics Center against No. 18 Loyola Marymount carried by Tara Prentice's six goals for a 13-9 win.

Prentice six goals is a new career high for the grad student who had posted five 5-goal games in her career scoring in every quarter on Thursday. She boosts her career goals scored mark to 193 passing Gianna Rossi now for sixth-most in program history. The six-goal game is the 10th in program history from nine different 'Eaters.

The Anteaters (8-3) did what they've done four times now and shutout their opponent in the opening period. UCI scored four times with two from Prentice and helped by Jessica Lynch and Nioka Thomas goals.

The Lions (4-5) fought back making it a one-goal game midway through the second period. Prentice build the lead back to 7-4 at the half with two more goals, and Kili Skibby contributed in the period as well.

The match stayed tight through the third as the sides traded scores with Prentice netting her fifth and Isabel Rack adding a score for a 9-7 lead at the end of three.

LMU scored first in the fourth to draw UCI to 9-8 with 7:03 to go, but UC Irvine put on the afterburners with four of the final five goals including Prentice's sixth with 5:57 left in the match to claim a 13-9 win.

Prentice finished with her six points tied for a game high with LMU's Marialena Seletopoulou with her five goals and one assist. Prentice added game highs with four drawn exclusions, two steals, and nine shot attempts. Fellow grad student Isabel Rack scored twice and assisted on two for the 'Eaters. Piper Smith also had a two-goal game while Sabina Shackelford registered two assists. UCI won all four sprints on the afternoon from four different Anteaters - Skibby, Smith, Rylee Williams, and Jensine Bugelli.

Faith Tedesco earned her eighth in of the season stopping five shots; four of those saves came in the goalless first period.

One more match on the weekend for the Anteaters as they open Big West season Saturday, February 19, at No. 24 CSUN starting at 12:00 p.m.