Great Alaska Shootout
UC Irvine (2-2) vs.
Bowling Green (1-3)
Date: Friday, Nov. 21
Time: 5:15 p.m. (AT) / 6:16 p.m. (PT)
Location: Alaska Airlines Center (5,000) - Anchorage, Alaska

UC Irvine (3-2) vs.
St. Thomas (1-4)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. (AT) / 8:30 p.m. (PT)
Location: Alaska Airlines Center (5,000) - Anchorage, Alaska
Game Notes vs. St. Thomas

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's basketball is back on the road this week at the ASRC/ConocoPhillips Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Nov. 21-22. The Anteaters are set to open the tournament against Bowling Green Friday at 5:15 p.m. (AT)/6:15 p.m. (PT). A win would put the 'Eaters in the championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (AT)/8:30 p.m. (PT), and a loss would put them in the third-place game at 5:15 p.m. (AT)/6:15 p.m. (PT). The other side of the bracket features St. Thomas and tournament host Alaska Anchorage.
 
STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES
• As of Nov. 19, UC Irvine ranks first in the Big West and is among the top-12 in the nation in free throws made (10th, 19.5/game) and free throw percentage (11th, 82.1%). At Arizona, the Anteaters drew 32 fouls and got to the line 33 times. They were also 23-of-28 at the charity stripe in their season-opening win over San Diego, and 24-for-26 in a 90-75 victory against NAU. Individually, Jada Wynn is eighth in all of NCAA Division I with 28 free throws made, and 12th with 35 attempts. Wynn currently leads the 'Eaters in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), and assists (4.0 apg).

• Fifth-year senior Hunter Hernandez is the lone returning starter from UCI's 2024-25 squad that went 21-10 overall. Hernandez is a two-time first-team All-Big West selection, and was named to the 2025-26 All-Big West Preseason Team. The 5-foot-9 guard is coming off her first double-double of the season, and sixth of her career, after putting up 11 points and 11 rebounds vs. NAU. She also had a season-high 23 points at the University of Arizona. Hernandez enters the week ranked second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg).  

• Junior Shirel Nahum had a breakout performance in last Saturday's 90-75 win over Northern Arizona as she led five Anteaters in double figures with a career-high 23 points. Nahum went 6-for-18 from the field with a career-best three 3-pointers made. She was also a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. 

• UC Irvine has been a different team at home (2-0) and on the road (0-2) to start the season. At the Bren Events Center, the Anteaters have not trailed, own a +16.5 scoring margin, and a +2.0 turnover margin. In their two road contests, the 'Eaters were outscored by 13.0 ppg, and committed 18 more turnovers than their opponents.

• UC Irvine is looking to continue the most successful stretch in program history. The Anteaters have reached 20+ wins and placed among the top-two in the Big West regular season standings in each of the last four years. Since 2021-22, the 'Eaters are 92-40 overall, and 61-15 in conference play. In the past three seasons, UCI won a Big West Championship (2023-24) and the program's first Big West regular season title (2022-23).

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green (1-3) won its opener against Louisiana, but has since lost three in a row, falling at No. 2 South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Marquette. Sophomore guard Johnea Donahue leads the Falcons with 14.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.5 steals per game. Junior guard Paige Kohler, who was a Preseason All-Mid American Conference first-team selection, has also put up 12.5 ppg, while junior forward Taya Ellis is tops on the squad in rebounding (5.8 rpg).

A GLANCE AT THE REST OF THE FIELD
Alaska Anchorage is unbeaten at 5-0, and has dominated its opponents with a +27.2 scoring margin. The Seawolves are led by sophomore guard Mahaila Harrison (19.8 ppg) and senior guard Elaina Mack (19.2 ppg), who are both averaging nearly 20 points per game. Junior forward Lillee Duffin has been the team's top rebounder at 14.8 boards per contest. UAA is an NCAA Division II institution. 

St. Thomas (0-4) is still searching for its first win of the season. Sophomore forward Alyssa Sand leads the Tommies with 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. St. Thomas made the jump from NCAA Division III to Division I in 2021, and is a member of the Summit League.

SERIES RECORDS
UC Irvine trails in its all-time series with Bowling Green, 1-0. The Falcons won the only meeting between the two teams, 62-54, at the LMU Tournament in Los Angeles on Nov. 28, 2014.

The Anteaters squared off against St. Thomas for the first time in program history two seasons ago at the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off in Stockton. UCI came out on top, 74-63 (Nov. 24, 2023).

If the 'Eaters end up facing Alaska Anchorage, it would be the first meeting between the two programs.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine had five players reach double figures in scoring with two recording a double-double in a 90-75 win over Northern Arizona last Saturday at the Bren Events Center. Shirel Nahum led the way with a career-high 23 points. She was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. Jada Wynn also had a season-best 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Hunter Hernandez added 11 points and 11 boards. Nohe'alani Stores (14) and Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe (10) rounded out UCI's double-digit scorers. The Anteaters set season highs in points (90), field goals made (28), 3-pointers made (10), assists (18), and free throw percentage (92.3%). They also outrebounded the Lumberjacks, 48-32.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
UCI was picked second in The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll for the third-straight year. The Anteaters received four first-place votes and 90 total points in a narrow race with Hawai'i, which won the 2024-25 Big West regular-season title. The Rainbow Wahine (91) also received four first-place votes and came in one point ahead of the 'Eaters. UC Davis was picked third with 83 points (one first-place vote), while UC San Diego had two first-place nods but took fourth with 77 points. UC Santa Barbara (61) rounded out the top five. Hunter Hernandez was named to the All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. Hernandez is the conference's only returning All-Big West first-team selection. She averaged 13.1 points and 5.5 rebounds last year.

20-20 VISION
Last year, the Anteaters went 21-10 for their fourth-straight 20-win season. Back in 1983-84 and 1984-85, the 'Eaters recorded consecutive 20-win campaigns. They then went through a 34-year drought until head coach Tamara Inoue led UC Irvine to 20 victories in her third season at the helm (2018-19). Her squad also went 21-12 in 2021-22, finished with a school-record 25 wins in 2022-23, and went 23-9 in 2023-24.

DEFEND THE BREN
Since 2017-18, UCI is 83-26 (.761) at the Bren Events Center. Last year, the 'Eaters went 12-2 in Irvine, tying the single-season school record for home wins. This year, the Anteaters are 2-0 with a +16.5 scoring margin at the Bren. They have 13 more home games on their schedule.

NEW LOOK
UC Irvine has a new look in 2025-26. Five members of the core group that led the 'Eaters to four-straight 20-win campaigns graduated after last season. UCI reloaded with a young squad that features eight underclassmen, including five who are in their first NCAA Division I season.

LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
UC Irvine has become a powerhouse in The Big West under 10th-year head coach Tamara Inoue. The Anteaters placed among the top-two in the conference in each of the last six years, including the first regular-season title in program history in 2022-23. Since 2020-21, UCI has not lost more than five conference games in a season, combining for a league-leading 72-19 (.791) record during that stretch. The 'Eaters also advanced to the championship game of the Big West tournament three times in the last five years, winning it all in 2023-24.

DEFENSIVE IDENTITY
UCI ended each of the last three seasons ranked among the top-15 in the nation in scoring defense. The Anteaters closed out the 2024-25 campaign at No. 10 with 54.3 points allowed per game, while they were also fifth in field goal percentage defense (35.4%). UC Irvine held its opponents to 60 points or less in 21 of its 31 contests. In 2023-24, the 'Eaters ranked 14th in all of NCAA Division I in scoring defense (55.7 ppg). In addition, their school-record 53.2 points allowed per game in 2022-23 was seventh-best in the country. The Anteaters are trying to find that same defensive intensity this year after giving up more than 60 points in three-straight games for the first time since January 2022.

CHASING 1,000
Senior Hunter Hernandez has 873 career points, putting her 127 away from becoming the 16th member of UC Irvine women's basketball's 1,000-point club. If she accomplishes the feat, it would be the second-straight season an Anteater reached the 1K milestone as Déja Lee did it in 2024-25.

THE GOAT
Tamara Inoue has cemented her legacy as the most accomplished head coach in program history. On Feb. 27, 2025, Inoue earned her 159th career victory to surpass Dean Andrea (1979-1991) as UCI's all-time winningest head coach. Inoue owns a 163-118 career record in her nine-plus seasons at the helm. She has led UC Irvine to a pair of Big West Championships, four of the Anteaters' five national postseason appearances, their first victory in national postseason tournament (WNIT), five of their seven 20-win campaigns, and single-season school records in both overall (25) and conference (16) wins.

TAKING THE LEAD
Fifth-year senior Hunter Hernandez is averaging 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The 5-foot-9 guard, who is UCI's only returning starter from last year, has 44 career double-figure scoring games including six 20-point performances. In addition, she is the team's active career double-double leader with six. Hernandez is a two-time first-team All-Big West selection (2024-25 and 2022-23), while she made the All-Freshman Team in 2021-22. She missed the 2023-24 season recovering from a second ACL injury.

FAMILY TIES
Senior Jada Wynn returns home for the final season of her collegiate career. After spending the last two years at Texas Tech, the Yorba Linda native is back in Orange County and ready to play in front of her family. One family member will be on the bench as Jada is the eldest daughter of UCI assistant coach Derek Wynn. Through her first four games as an Anteater, the 6-foot-1 guard is tops on the squad in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), and assists (4.0 apg). She had her first career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds against Northern Arizona. Wynn has scored 28 of her 55 points at the charity stripe as she ranks sixth in the nation in free throws made.

ON POINT
Junior Shirel Nahum has taken on the starting point guard role after the graduation of two-time first-team All-Big West selection and 2023-24 Big West Player of the Year Déja Lee. Nahum had a breakout performance in a 90-75 win over Northern Arizona as she finished with a game and career-high 23 points. Three of her six made field goals were from beyond the arc, while she went 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Nahum is now third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per outing. 

SHARP SHOOTER
Sophomore Lauryn Madsen set career highs in both points (12) and rebounds (8) in the season opener. Madsen went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc in the Anteaters' 72-54 win over the Toreros. The Warden, Washington, native matched that offensive output at Idaho State where she also buried four triples for 12 points. Ten of her 11 field goals and 30 of her 31 attempts have been from 3-point range this season. In 26 career games played, Madsen has knocked down a three in 17 of them, and drained multiple threes five times. The 5-foot-11 guard is averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in four outings.

FRENCH CONNECTION
Sophomore Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe (La Roche-sur-Yon, France) is in her first season with the Anteaters, making it the fourth year in a row UCI women's basketball has had a native of France on their roster. Zonzon-Huyghe is coming off a season-best 10-point performance in a 90-75 victory over Northern Arizona. Over the last three games, the 5-foot-9 guard is shooting 77% (10-13) from the field and 60% (3-5) from distance. She is also tops on the squad with five steals. Zonzon-Huyghe came to UCI after an impressive year at Arizona Western College where she was an NJCAA second-team All-American, first-team all-conference, and first-team all-region selection. 

STATEMENT DEBUT
Freshman Nohe'alani Stores made a statement in her collegiate debut as the 6-foot-2 forward tied for the team lead with 17 points (7-8 FG), while pulling down five rebounds in the Anteaters' 72-54 win over San Diego. She also grabbed a team and season-best nine boards at Idaho State. Through four games, Stores is second on the squad in field goal percentage at 63.6% (14-22).

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will host the ZotGiving Classic at the Bren Events Center, Nov. 28-29. The Anteaters are slated to open the tournament with a 2 p.m. game against Wichita State on Friday, before taking on Colgate in a 4:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday.