SAN DIEGO - UC Irvine women's basketball continued to make history as they secured the program's first postseason win, taking down San Diego State, 55-45, in the first round of the WNIT Friday evening at Viejas Arena.
 
The Anteaters (25-6) increased their school-record win total to 25, while SDSU finished their season at 23-11.
 
"This is a special team," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "It's so much fun coaching them and I don't want it to stop. Every year, you have a new team, something different, so I only get to coach this team once, and I'm enjoying every moment."
 
The 'Eaters held a one-point lead after 20 minutes before taking control in the second half where they outscored the Aztecs, 27-18. They held their opponent to under 50 points for the ninth time this year.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Déja Lee led all players with 18 points, and sophomore Nikki Tom pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points and two steals.
 
Junior Diaba Konate added 10 points, six boards and five assists, while graduate student Nyagoa Gony finished with a season-best nine points. Sophomore Amelia Scharpf and junior Nevaeh Parkinson chipped in five points each.
 
The 'Eaters shot 40.4% from the field and were 6-of-15 from beyond the arc. They also held the Aztecs to just 28.6% from the field and 20.8% (5-of-24) from long distance. In addition, UCI won the battle in rebounding, 40-38.
 
Mercedes Staples paced SDSU with 16 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: It was a seesaw battle in the early going with four lead changes over the first two-plus minutes. San Diego State then used a 7-0 spurt to pull ahead, 11-5, at the 6:12 mark. UC Irvine quickly closed the gap to two with buckets from Tom and Lee, but the Aztecs were able to stay out front with a 15-12 advantage after the opening quarter.
 
The Anteaters started the second period on a 9-2 run, capped by five-straight points from Lee, to go on top, 22-17, with 7:10 remaining. SDSU responded with eight unanswered to go up by three, but the 'Eaters finished strong with Lee's second three of the half giving them a 28-27 edge at the break.
 
San Diego State knocked down a triple to start the third frame, but it was all UCI after that. Scharpf's layup on the ensuing possession tied it up before Lee's third trey of the night put UC Irvine on top for good. The visitors would extend their lead to 41-35 on a Parkinson layup at the 3:27 mark. They maintained the six-point margin at the end of the quarter (43-37).
 
The Anteaters didn't let up in the fourth period, leading by at least five over the final 10 minutes. The two teams exchanged points until a Parkinson layup started a 5-0 run to close out the game. The 'Eaters kept the Aztecs off the board over the last two minutes for the 55-45 win.
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine advances to the second round of the WNIT where it will face the University of San Diego on Monday, March 20. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
 
NOTES
• The Anteaters' record-breaking season continued with the first postseason win in program history.
• They also won the program's first Big West regular-season championship this year.
• UC Irvine improved to 21-3 when holding its opponent to 60 points or less.
• The 'Eaters have not lost back-to-back games in 2022-23.
• UCI handed San Diego State just its third home loss of the season.
• Déja Lee had her second-straight 18-point outing.
• Lee has reached double figures in scoring in five of the last six games.
• Nikki Tom extended her streak of games played with a 3-pointer made to 13.
• Nyagoa Gony had multiple blocks for the 12th time.
• Diaba Konate has also dished out 5+ assists in four of the last five contests.