IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team's second-half comeback fell short in a 57-49 season-opening loss to New Mexico State Monday evening at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (0-1) went down by 17 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. Senior Déja Lee then knocked down a 3-pointer to start a 16-2 run that brought UCI within three at the 1:36 mark. The Aggies scored the final four points of the period, but the 'Eaters opened the fourth on a 9-4 spurt to make it a two-point game. That was the closest they would get as NM State finished strong for the win.
 
"It was a good battle tonight," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "We looked like a returning team with a lot of newcomers. We have some good returners back, but the reality is we have to get our team playing together."  
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Summah Hanson finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks in her UC Irvine debut. Junior Hunter Hernandez added 13 points and seven boards in her first game since suffering a knee injury on Feb. 15, 2023.
 
Reigning Big West Player of the Year Déja Lee also reached double figures with 10 points. Senior Nikki Tom chipped in a team-best seven assists and four steals.
 
The Anteaters shot 31.4% (16-51) from the field and 41.7% (5-12) from beyond the arc. They were outrebounded, 35-30, but held the advantage in steals (10-7), second-chance points (10-6) and bench points (23-5).
 
New Mexico State (1-0) finished the game shooting 40.8% overall and 30.8% from deep. Fanta Gassama led the Aggies with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Hernandez started the scoring with a putback at the 9:09 mark. The two teams then went back-and-forth before New Mexico State broke a 6-6 tie with an 8-3 run. UC Irvine came storming back in the final minute as it scored six-straight points, including a corner three from senior Amelia Scharpf at the buzzer, to pull ahead, 15-14.
 
The Aggies took control in the second quarter with a 10-0 spurt putting them on top, 24-15. Hernandez ended the scoring drought for the Anteaters with 4:13 remaining, but NM State continued to tack onto its lead, going up 30-19 at the half.
 
New Mexico State knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to start the third period for its largest lead of the night at 36-19. Lee then connected from downtown to start a 16-2 run over the next six minutes. Hanson also hit a couple threes, while sophomore Jaida Brooks added one of her own during that stretch. Hanson, who had eight points in the frame, capped the rally with a layup to close the gap to 38-35 at the 1:36 mark. The Aggies responded with four unanswered to go back on top by seven (42-35).
 
The 'Eaters cut the deficit to two on a Scharpf free throw at the 4:28 mark, but that was the closest they would get as NM State hit a big three on its next possession. The Aggies continued on an 11-5 run to seal the 57-49 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in the Bren Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 7, when it hosts Pepperdine in its third annual Kids Day game at 11 a.m.
 
NOTES
• Nikki Tom increased her career steals total to 161, which ranks ninth in program history.
• Tom's seven assists were also a career best.
• Hunter Hernandez and Olivia Williams made their return after sitting out the 2023-24 season recovering from their respective knee injuries.
• Three of the Anteaters' seven newcomers made their debut on Monday.
• UC Irvine is now 5-4 in season openers under head coach Tamara Inoue.
• UCI also lost its season opener last year before going on to win 23 games.