DAVIS, Calif. – UC Irvine women's water polo saw their season come to a close in the 2024 Big West Championship semifinal with a loss to No. 3 seed Long Beach State, 9-7.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lauren Hett posted a team best two goals in the contest
• Airian Grisham, Sabina Shackelford, Jensine Bugelli, Gracie Helberg, and Maja Layden chipped in for the reaming goals
• Grisham tallied a game best three assists
• Faith Tedesco blocked 10 shots and was credited a steal in 32 minutes in the cage
• Five different Anteaters had a steal in the game
• No. 3 seed Long Beach State was led by Elissa Portillo who recorded three goals on four shots, an assist, and two steals

SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: Defense was strong on both sides to open up the action in the semifinal round. No. 2 seed UC Irvine struck first as they drew an exclusion as the shot clock was expiring to add another offensive possession. The ball ended up in the hands of Airian Grisham (1:09) for the score. No. 3 seed Long Beach State evened it up on their drive down the pool on the five-meter before Lauren Hett lobbed the ball that barred down into the cage with one tick left for the lead, 2-1.
  • Grisham (1) and Hett (1)
• Second period:  The Beach posted three unanswered in the second period to gain control of the game. At 1:11, Hett found Gracie Helberg in the center for a ripping shot to bring the contest within one, 4-3.
  • Helberg (1)
• Third period: Hett (5:02) went high cross cage for the first Anteater score of the frame to keep the Anteaters in striking distance. Maja Layden added the next on a ripping center shot at 2:32 as LBSU stayed ahead, 7-5.
  • Hett (1) and Layden (1)
• Fourth period: UCI came into the final stanza fired up and evened the game up 7-all by way of a Jensine Bugelli (6:43) back hand shot and then Sabina Shackelford's (4:00) steal set up the Anteaters next offensive possession which allowed her to score. LBSU powered far post at 2:25 to reclaim the advantage. After The Beach missed a shot, UCI called a timeout to set up for a 7-on-6 possession to tie the game, but the shot was just shy of crossing the line. LBSU's throw away ball went into the cage at the buzzer, 9-7.
  • Bugelli (1) and Shackelford (1)