IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's basketball (12-6, 6-2 Big West) put on a show for the biggest crowd in program history with a 74-59 victory over Black & Blue Rival Long Beach State in Thursday's Big West matinee at the Bren Events Center.
 
The two teams tipped off at 11 a.m. as part of the Anteaters' second annual Kids Day. They brought in local elementary schools for a field trip to the game, resulting in a UCI women's basketball record attendance of 2,294.
 
"It was a great environment and this is what it is all about for our players," said head coach Tamara Inoue. "Our team works really hard and they were excited to show that in front of the crowd today. They are also great role models. It's good for these young kids to see what Division I student-athletes can do at UC Irvine."  
 
It was close in the first half with seven ties, three lead changes and neither side pulling ahead by more than five. After LBSU tied it up on free throws from UCI's fifth team foul at the 5:16 mark of the third quarter, the 'Eaters broke the game wide open with a huge 19-0 run giving them a 56-37 cushion. They continued to roll, going up by as many as 26 in the fourth.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Nevaeh Parkinson led UC Irvine with a team-high 13 points (6-8 FG), nine rebounds and two blocks. Fifth-year senior Diaba Konate also finished with 12 points (6-9 FG), six assists and a season-high six steals.
 
Graduate student Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba added 11 points and freshman Shirel Nahum registered 10. Junior Déja Lee chipped in nine points and four steals, while senior Nevaeh Dean notched five points, seven boards, three steals and one block.
 
The 'Eaters shot 47.7% (31-65) from the field. They had 17 steals, scoring 29 points off 26 forced turnovers.
 
The Beach shot 45.1% (23-51) overall and went 5-of-16 from beyond the arc. Casey Valenti Paea paced LBSU with a game-high 16 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Long Beach State (6-12, 1-7 Big West) went up 4-0 before UC Irvine got on the board with a pair of free throws from Nahum at the seven-minute mark. The Beach stayed out front and pulled ahead 13-8 with 4:57 remaining. The Anteaters then scored seven unanswered for their first lead of the game. Sidi Baba started the rally with five-straight points. It went back-and-forth over the final two minutes of the first quarter with UCI holding a 19-17 advantage following a Parkinson layup with 18 seconds on the clock.
 
A seesaw battle continued in a low-scoring second period as there were four ties prior to the media timeout. The 'Eaters accounted for the only points of the final five minutes for a 29-26 edge at the break.
 
LBSU kept it close and knotted the score at 37-all at the 5:16 mark of the third frame. UC Irvine then came alive with a 19-0 run, capped by a Parkinson layup, to break it open at 56-37. The Anteaters won the quarter, 27-11. It was the most points they have scored in a 10-minute period this season.
 
The 'Eaters kept their foot on the gas in the fourth, going up by as many as 26 (65-39) following back-to-back layups from Lee. Despite a late push from the Beach, UCI was never threatened in the 74-59 victory.  
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will head to CSUN for a 2 p.m. showdown on Saturday, Jan. 27.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 6-0 when scoring 70+ points this season.
• The Anteaters improved to 6-1 with a +13.0 scoring margin at the Bren Events Center.
• UCI had four players reach double figures in scoring for the second-straight game.
• Diaba Konate is the second 'Eater to record six steals in a game this year, joining Déja Lee who has done it twice.
• Konate has finished with 5+ assists and 3+ steals in each of her last three outings.
• Nikki Tom made her 60th consecutive start.