RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team nearly overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, but their late rally fell just short in a 59-54 loss to UC Riverside Saturday evening at the SRC Arena.
 
The Anteaters (8-5, 2-1 Big West) struggled to contain a hot-shooting Highlander squad that went 17-for-27 (62.9%) from the field over the first 20 minutes. The 'Eaters trailed at the half for the first time in conference play as they found themselves down 37-23.
 
UCI regrouped at the break, limiting UCR to 33% in the second half. After the home team pulled ahead by 16 early in the third quarter, UC Irvine started making moves as it closed on a 12-5 run to cut the deficit to single digits.
 
UC Riverside (7-7, 3-1 Big West) went back on top by 11 to start the final frame, but the Anteaters rallied once again, making it a one-point game (52-51) on a Hunter Hernandez jumper with 50 seconds remaining. The Highlanders answered with a clutch three and were then able to seal the victory at the free throw line.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Déja Lee finished with a game-high 15 points. Lee also had four assists and three steals.
 
Junior Hunter Hernandez was just shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while junior Olivia Williams had her second-straight double-figure scoring effort with 11 points.
 
The 'Eaters shot 37.7% from the field, 21.1% from beyond the arc and a season-low 55.6% at the free throw line. They scored 18 points off 19 forced turnovers but were outrebounded, 36-29.
 
UCR shot 50% (24-48) from the floor. Shelley Duchemin led three Highlanders in double figures with 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Riverside raced out to a 13-5 lead at the 4:11 mark. After UC Irvine got four-straight points from Ines Gnahore, the Highlanders outscored the Anteaters, 8-0, over the final two-and-a-half minutes to pull ahead, 21-9.
 
The 'Eaters started strong in the second period with a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Williams 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 23-16 with 8:07 remaining. The two teams traded buckets over the next minute before UCR used a 9-2 run down the stretch to go up, 37-23, at the half.
 
UC Riverside took its largest lead of the game (41-25) at the 7:51 mark of the third frame. UCI then started to chip away, eventually going on an 8-2 run, which was sparked by back-to-back layups from Lee, to make it 48-39.
 
It went back-and-forth to start the fourth before UC Irvine scored nine unanswered points. The rally started at the free throw line where Summah Hanson knocked down two, and ended with a Hernandez jumper in the paint that brought the Anteaters within one (52-51). The Highlanders' Makayla Rose then drained a clutch three with 42 seconds on the clock to ultimately put the game out of reach.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in the Bren Events Center next week as it hosts CSUN in a 6 p.m. Big West showdown on Thursday, Jan. 9.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine suffered its first loss to UC Riverside since Jan. 8, 2021, snapping a seven-game win streak in the series.
• It was also the Anteaters' first setback to a Big West opponent since Feb. 24, 2024.
• The 'Eaters trailed in a conference game for the first time this season.
• Déja Lee increased her career steals total to 180, moving into a tie for fourth in program history.
• Lee also surpassed 900 career points (903).
• Olivia Williams knocked down multiple threes for the third-straight game and seventh time this season.
• Ines Gnahore went 2-for-2 from the field and is now 9-for-10 on the season.