IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team put together its best defensive performance of the season in a dominant 58-31 win over UC Santa Barbara Thursday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (12-8, 7-2 Big West) held the Gauchos to a season-low four points in the second and fourth quarters. UCSB shot under 10% in both periods.
 
Overall, UCI limited UCSB to an 18% (9-50) clip from the field and 9% (1-11) from beyond the arc. UC Irvine also won the battle in rebounding (39-34) and turnovers forced (15-9).
 
UC Santa Barbara's 31 points were the fewest the 'Eaters have allowed since they held NAIA member Life Pacific to 31 on Nov. 7, 2018. In addition, it was their fewest points allowed against an NCAA Division I opponent since 1991.
 
"I'm really impressed with our defense," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "I thought we were really locked in and did a great job. I couldn't be prouder of our team."
 
WHO STOOD OUT: Kayla Williams and Sophia Locandro tied for the game high with 14 points each. Williams was 5-of-8 from the floor (3-4 3FG), while adding four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Locandro, who went 7-for-13, also had four boards and three blocks. She was phenomenal on the defensive end where she matched up with 2020 AP All-American Ila Lane, holding the 6-foot-4 center to just seven points.
 
"Sophia didn't shy away from contact," stated Inoue. "I really believe in her and tonight she had no fear."
 
Chloe Webb had a solid stat line with six points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Nikki Tom chipped in five points, three boards, two steals and two blocks, and Jayde Cadee pulled down a career-best seven rebounds.
 
As a team, the Anteaters shot 41% from the field, 36% from deep and 77% at the free throw line.
 
Alexis Tucker paced the Gauchos with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Santa Barbara (10-7, 4-4 Big West) took the early lead and pulled ahead, 9-4, at the 5:54 mark. UC Irvine came right back to tie it up with a Williams triple and a Webb layup, but the Gauchos scored the final three points of the first quarter for a 12-9 advantage.
 
The Anteaters came out firing in the second period, going up 17-12 following an 8-0 run that was bookended by threes from Williams and Naomi Hunt. UCSB then got on the board with a couple free throws with 8:14 to play, but the 'Eaters kept rolling as they outscored the visitors, 14-2, the rest of the way. Williams capped the scoring with a half-court buzzer beater that gave UCI a 31-16 lead at the break.
 
In the second quarter, UC Irvine shot a blistering 57%, while holding UC Santa Barbara to 1-of-12 (8%).
 
The Anteaters scored the first four points of the third frame to increase their cushion to 19. The Gauchos made a small dent in UCI's lead, closing the gap to 14, before the 'Eaters came right back with six unanswered to go on top, 43-23, with 2:42 remaining. UC Irvine would finish the quarter with an 18-point lead (45-27).
 
The 'Eaters did not let up on the defensive end, limiting UCSB to four points in the final 10 minutes. They outscored the Gauchos, 13-4, for the 58-31 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back at the Bren on Saturday, Feb. 5, when it plays host to CSUN at 2 p.m.
 
 
NOTES
• Sophia Locandro moved up to No. 8 in school history with 79 career blocked shots.
• Kayla Williams reached 600 career points and 100 career steals.
• UC Irvine remains in a tie for first with Long Beach State in the Big West standings.
• The Anteaters improved to 8-1 when allowing fewer than 60 points.
• This marked the second-straight game UCI held its opponent to two single-digit quarters.
• Over the last five games, the 'Eaters have limited their adversaries to 14% from long distance (10-71).
• Seven of UC Irvine's 12 wins have come by 10+ points.
• UCI has now won four in a row in its all-time series with UC Santa Barbara.
• The Anteaters' 27-point win was their largest margin of victory against the Gauchos since 1987.