DAVIS, Calif. - UC Irvine women's basketball was handed their first Big West loss of the season as they dropped a narrow 60-57 decision to UC Davis Saturday afternoon at the University Credit Union Center.
 
The Anteaters (9-5, 3-1 Big West) led by as many as 10 early in the third quarter, but were outscored 19-14 in the period and 33-22 in the second half.

The Aggies used a 7-0 spurt to go up 55-53 with 4:20 remaining in the game. It was their first lead since the 6:36 mark of the second quarter. The 'Eaters tied it up twice and had a couple late opportunities but were unable to convert in the three-point loss.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Déja Lee went 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc for a game-high 17 points. She also had a career-best six steals.
 
Junior Nikki Tom finished with 14 points on a 4-of-6 (3-4 3FG) shooting performance. Senior Neveah Dean added nine points, while junior Amelia Scharpf pulled down a team-best five rebounds.
 
The 'Eaters shot 45.8% as a team and were 7-of-12 (58.3%) from distance. They forced 24 turnovers but were outrebounded, 32-20.
 
The Aggies finished with a 48.9% overall clip and were 8-of-21 (38.1%) from 3-point range. Tova Sabel paced UC Davis with 16 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine held the early advantage, going up 6-2 on a Lee jumper at the 5:27 mark. UC Davis then turned the tables with an 8-0 spurt over the next couple minutes. The Anteaters knotted the score at 10-all with buckets from Nevaeh Parkinson and Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba, but the Aggies reclaimed a two-point edge by the end of the first quarter.
 
UCD scored the first five points of the second period before Lee and Tom caught fire from beyond the arc. Back-to-back triples from Lee started a 12-2 run that put the 'Eaters on top, 28-20, with 3:40 remaining. Tom also knocked down a couple threes during the rally. UCI stayed out front the rest of the way and took a 35-27 lead into the locker room thanks to a Sidi Baba 3-pointer with 23 seconds on the clock.
 
UC Davis (6-8, 2-2 Big West) struck first in the third frame, but Tom answered with four-straight points to give the Anteaters a 39-29 cushion with 8:40 to go. The Aggies then outscored UC Irvine, 15-5, over the next four minutes to pull even at 44-all. The 'Eaters went back on top by five after a couple free throws from Parkinson and a three from Tom. UCD sank a couple free throws at the 2:56 mark to make it 49-46. UCI maintained that edge as both teams were scoreless down the stretch.
 
UC Irvine went up 53-48 following a Sidi Baba jumper at the 6:11 mark of the fourth quarter. UC Davis came back with a 7-0 spurt to take a 55-53 lead with 4:20 to play. The Anteaters tied it up on a Dean layup and again at 57-57 on a Scharpf jumper, but they were unable to convert over the final two minutes as UCD held on for the 60-57 victory.  
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns home to host Hawai'i on Thursday, Jan. 11, in its lone game next week. The Anteaters and Rainbow Wahine are slated for a 6 p.m. tip-off at the Bren Events Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine held its opponent to 60 points or less for the fourth-straight game and 10th time this season.
• UCI suffered its first loss when shooting over 40% this season.
• Déja Lee has reached double figures in scoring in each of the last five contests.
• Lee and Nikki Tom both surpassed 500 career points.
• Lee's six steals are tied for fourth in single-game school history.