PHILADELPHIA - UC Irvine women's basketball opened its road trip with a 57-47 victory over Drexel Wednesday evening at Daskalakis Athletic Center.
 
In a match-up between two 2024 NCAA Tournament teams, it was the Anteaters (4-1) who came out on top, handing the Dragons (2-1) their first loss of the young season.
 
UCI trailed only twice in the contest and took the lead for good with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter. The 'Eaters locked down defensively, holding Drexel to just 26.4% (14-53) from the field and 9.5% (2-21) from beyond the arc. Despite their offensive struggles, the home team was able to keep it close by getting to the free throw line 24 times compared to just 15 trips for the 'Eaters.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Déja Lee led the Anteaters with a season-high 15 points. She also had four assists and three steals. Lee now has 160 steals in her career, which ranks 10th in program history.
 
Sophomore Summah Hanson finished with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior Nevaeh Dean put up 11 points and five boards. It was Dean's second-straight double-figure scoring game.
 
The 'Eaters shot 40% (20-50) from the field, 36.4% (4-11) from beyond the arc and 86.7% (13-15) at the charity stripe.
 
Amaris Baker paced Drexel with a game-high 20 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Drexel took an early 6-3 lead, but UC Irvine responded with a 7-0 rally, capped by a steal and layup from Nikki Tom, to pull ahead 10-6 at the 6:03 mark. The Dragons knotted the score at 12-all before a couple layups by Hanson in the final two minutes gave the Anteaters a 16-14 edge at the end of the first quarter.
 
UCI kept the momentum in the second period, scoring the first six points to go up, 22-14, with seven minutes remaining. DU then used an 8-2 spurt, with half of those points coming at the free throw line, to close the gap to 24-22. Olivia Williams converted a layup at the 2:30 mark and both teams went scoreless the rest of the way as the 'Eaters held a 26-22 advantage at the half.

A couple quick buckets from Dean started an 8-3 run that gave UC Irvine a nine-point lead (34-25) at the 7:46 mark of the third frame. Drexel responded with a triple, but the Anteaters stayed out front and went back on top by nine on a pair of free throws from Amelia Scharpf with 3:24 to go. The Dragons then went 4-for-4 at the charity stripe to cut the deficit to 40-35 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
DU struck first in the fourth, but Williams answered with a three. Dean then scored five-straight points, including a triple at the 6:25 mark to give the 'Eaters their largest lead of the night at 48-37. Drexel pulled back within six before Lee drilled another clutch 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining. UCI then increased the margin back to double digits, coming away with the 57-47 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will stay in Philadelphia for a 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT) showdown at Penn on Thursday, Nov. 21.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is off to a 4-1 start for the second time in the last three seasons.
• This was the first meeting between UCI and Drexel.
• The 'Eaters won the 2024 Big West Championship, while the Dragons won the CAA title last year.
• In the last two games, Nevaeh Dean is shooting 56% (10-18) from the field.
• Déja Lee has reached double figures in scoring in four of the Anteaters' five games.
• Lee has also led the team in assists on three occasions.
• Reese Noa made her first collegiate appearance, entering the game in the final 20 seconds.