IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team continued its perfect start to Big West play with a 69-62 victory over CSUN Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (13-3, 5-0 Big West) extended their overall win streak to seven, and their home win streak to 13, as they have not lost in Irvine since Jan. 22, 2022.
 
UCI led for 36 minutes but was unable to really pull away from a pesky Matador team. Every time it was poised to make a big run, CSUN would come right back with timely shooting. The 'Eaters never panicked, however, knocking down clutch shots of their own, swiping a couple big steals late in the game, and despite shooting just 68% at the charity stripe, they made their free throws down the stretch, sinking four in the final minute.
 
"We started kind of slow defensively," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "We traded baskets and let them do what they do well, but offensively we continued to go after it and go hard, which was good to see."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Olivia Williams led four Anteaters in double figures with 15 points, 10 of which came in the second half. She went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
 
"I thought Olivia Williams in the second half, coming right out of the gate and hitting those threes for us was critical," Inoue added. "It set the tone for us. Everyone is doing their job right now and on any given night someone will step up a little bit more. It's just fun to watch."
 
Sophomore Hunter Hernandez had her second-straight 14-point game to go along with six rebounds and a career-high five assists. Sophomore Nikki Tom also registered 13 points, four boards and two dimes, while classmate Déja Lee added 11 points (4-8 FG) and four assists.
 
Junior Nevaeh Dean finished with six points and seven rebounds, and junior Nevaeh Parkinson chipped in eight points.
 
UCI shot 42% from the field and was 10-of-20 from distance. The Matadors topped the 'Eaters in efficiency as they were 45% overall and 62% (8-13) from deep, but the home team held a lopsided advantage in free throws made (15-to-2) and points off turnovers (20-to-4).
 
CSUN's Tess Amundsen led all players with 20 points on an 8-of-12 (4-5 3FG) shooting performance. Jordyn Jackson also had 13 points and seven assists, and Michelle Duchemin finished with a double-double at 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine struck first and proceeded to go up 8-4 on a Williams 3-pointer at the 6:52 mark. CSUN responded with a couple buckets to even the score, but the Anteaters punched right back with jumpers from Tom and Parkinson giving them another four-point cushion. The Matadors kept it close and eventually knotted it up again at 13-all before Lee banked in a half court shot at the buzzer for a 16-13 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
 
CSUN (4-12, 3-3 Big West) started the second period with five-straight points for its first lead of the afternoon. Lee answered with her second triple, and Dean followed with a putback to make it 21-18 with 7:15 remaining. The two teams then exchanged buckets before the Matadors pulled back out front, 24-23, right before the media timeout. The 'Eaters then outscored the visitors, 6-1, over the final 4:43 for a 29-25 edge at the half.
 
Williams knocked down a couple 3-pointers early in the third frame to put UCI on top, 37-31. Tom and Hernandez followed suit with threes of their own to give UC Irvine its largest lead of the game at 43-35 midway through the quarter. CSUN climbed right back in it with a 7-0 rally before Hernandez sank a pair of free throws to push the margin to three (47-44).
 
Tom opened the fourth period with a triple from the corner. The Matadors stayed in it with some timely 3-pointers but the Anteaters continued to answer. UCI would go back up by eight three more times before CSUN cut the deficit to four with 1:58 left to play. The 'Eaters locked in down the stretch with steals from Williams and Lee, along with clutch free throw shooting from Tom and Parkinson to seal the 69-62 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will hit the road to face UC Santa Barbara on Monday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at The Thunderdome.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 5-0 in conference play for the second time in program history, joining the 1994-95 squad in elite company.
• The Anteaters' seven-game win streak is tied for the third-longest in school history.
• UCI, which entered today's game ranked third in the nation in scoring defense, allowed more than 60 points for the first time since Dec. 1.
• The 'Eaters are 13-0 when they have multiple players score in double figures.
• Hunter Hernandez has dished out 4+ assists in each of her last three outings.
• Nikki Tom has made a 3-pointer in six consecutive games.
• Olivia Williams has knocked down multiple triples in a game eight times this season.