SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Junior Hunter Hernandez's and-1 with 1.3 seconds on the clock lifted UC Irvine to a thrilling 59-57 victory over Cal Poly Saturday at Mott Athletics Center.
 
The Anteaters won their fourth-straight game to improve to 12-5 overall and 6-1 in Big West play.
 
It was a close game from start to finish with 14 lead changes, six ties and neither team going up by more than five. Olivia Williams knocked down two triples in a two-minute span late in the fourth quarter to put the 'Eaters on top, 56-54. The Mustangs answered as Ashley Hiraki buried a three with just under a minute to go.
 
After an empty possession, UCI forced a missed 3-pointer on the other end with Hernandez collecting the rebound and quickly calling a timeout. The Anteaters advanced the ball and with time winding down, got it back to Hernandez who drove the lane for the layup and the foul. She converted the free throw for the 59-57 lead.
 
Cal Poly (8-10, 3-5 Big West) had one more chance with one second left but solid defense from the Anteaters forced a deep three that was off the mark.
 
"I thought we handled the runs and lead changes really well; we stuck to it," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "I'm happy with the execution of the game which is something we haven't done in awhile so I'm really proud of them for that."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Hernandez finished with her first double-double of the season and fourth of her career with 18 points (7-13 FG) and 10 rebounds.
 
Senior Déja Lee added 10 points. Senior Nikki Tom went 4-for-4 from the field for eight points and notched three steals. Junior Olivia Williams also had eight points.
 
The Anteaters shot 39.7% from the field. They won the battle in turnovers forced (18-13), points off turnovers (17-3), points in the paint (30-22) and second-chance points (12-1).
 
Cal Poly closed out the game going 22-for-52 (42.3%) with seven 3-pointers. Annika Shah and Mary Carter led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Sierra Lichtie also pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine won the tip and Lee scored on the opening possession, but Cal Poly proceeded to reel off seven unanswered points. After trading buckets over the next minute, Summah Hanson converted an and-1 while Amelia Scharpf followed with a layup to put the Anteaters back on top, 12-11, at the 3:42 mark. A seesaw battle ensued with two more lead changes and three ties as the two teams ended the first quarter in a 17-17 deadlock.
 
The 'Eaters took a 21-17 advantage on a jumper from Hernandez and a layup from Daniela Falcón Hernández with 5:21 remaining in a low-scoring second period. The Mustangs then used an 8-0 run to pull ahead, 25-21. Scharpf would cut the deficit in half in the final minute as her layup made it 25-23 at the break.
 
UCI opened the third frame on an 8-1 run, capped by a Hernandez three, to take a 30-27 lead at the 8:05 mark. Cal Poly called a timeout and responded with an 11-5 spurt to go up, 38-35. Tom then scored the final bucket of the quarter to make it a one-point game (38-37).
 
The Mustangs started the fourth with a 3-pointer but Lee punched right back with a three of her own. The two sides continued to trade points with Cal Poly maintaining the slight edge. The Mustangs increased their cushion to 52-48 on another triple with 4:08 left to play. Williams then came up big with her two 3-pointers, while Tom also had a steal and layup during an 8-2 stretch that put the Anteaters up, 56-54, at the 1:24 mark.
 
Cal Poly reclaimed the lead with just under a minute to play, but Hernandez's and-1 with 1.3 seconds on the clock gave UCI the 59-57 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in action next Thursday, Jan. 23, when it welcomes UC Riverside to the Bren Events Center for a 6 p.m. Big West showdown.
 
NOTES
• UCI is tied for first with Long Beach State in the Big West standings at 6-1.
• The Anteaters have won nine-straight games in their all-time series with Cal Poly.
• Hunter Hernandez had UC Irvine's second double-double of the season and first since Summah Hanson's 20p/10r effort at Penn Nov. 21, 2024.
• It was Hernandez's sixth-consecutive double-figure scoring game.
• Déja Lee has also scored 10+ points in five-straight outings.
• Nikki Tom moved into a tie for fifth among UC Irvine's all-time leaders with 180 career steals.