IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine women's basketball held off a fourth-quarter rally by Wichita State to come away with a 58-52 victory in the first game of the ZotGiving Classic Friday at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (5-2) went up by as many as 20 early in the third quarter before seeing that lead cut down to 12 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
UCI maintained a double-digit advantage, going back on top by 19 with 6:30 to play, but the Shockers rallied once again, closing the gap to four with 20 seconds on the clock. Hunter Hernandez then came up clutch at the free throw line, going 4-for-4 to keep the 'Eaters out front.
 
"I knew they were going to start fouling us, that's all they could do at that point to get closer," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "Wichita State played hard and they played well in the second half. We have to match that, and we didn't do a good job of matching it. Normally, our teams are second half teams so it's just part of the growth process this year with so many newcomers."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Hunter Hernandez led UC Irvine with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. She was 13-of-16 at the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore Lauryn Madsen also reached double figures in scoring with 14 points on four threes and a pair of free throws. Sophomore Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe provided a spark off the bench in the first half, totaling nine points and four boards. Senior Jada Wynn added eight points and eight rebounds.
 
The Anteaters held the edge in turnovers forced (20-15) and rebounding (39-36).
 
Wichita State shot better from the field (39%-to-28%), but the 'Eaters made two more threes and held a lopsided advantage at the foul line where they were 18-of-22, and the Shockers were just 2-of-5.

Jaila Harding paced Wichita State with a game-high 21 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine took a 5-2 lead on Madsen's first 3-pointer of the game at the 7:06 mark. Wichita State (1-6) then pulled ahead, 8-5, before the Anteaters closed the first quarter on a 12-0 run for a 17-8 advantage.
 
UCI kept the momentum in the second period, outscoring the Shockers, 13-5, over the first five minutes. The two teams traded threes the rest of the way with Madsen knocking down both treys for the 'Eaters to put the home team on top, 37-19, at the half.
 
Hernandez hit a jumper in the paint in the first minute of the third frame to increase UC Irvine's cushion to 20, but Wichita State stormed back with eight unanswered to cut the deficit to 12 at the 6:53 mark. Junior Shirel Nahum then beat the shot clock on a broken play to make it 41-27. Both teams slowed down offensively over the final five minutes as the Anteaters owned a 42-30 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The 'Eaters opened the final quarter on a 9-2 spurt, bookended by triples from Hernandez and Wynn, to build a 51-32 margin with 6:30 left to play. Wichita State then used a furious 18-3 rally to make it a four-point game (54-50) with 20.8 seconds on the clock. The Shockers were forced to foul and Hernandez came up clutch, going 4-for-4 down the stretch to seal the 58-52 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will close out the ZotGiving Classic against Colgate on Saturday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has led by at least 17 in all five of its wins this season.
• This is the first time the Anteaters trailed in their five victories.
• The 'Eaters have held their last three opponents to under 60 points.
• Hunter Hernandez recorded her second 20-point game of the season and seventh of her career.
• Jada Wynn has led UCI in rebounding in four of the team's seven games.
• Lauryn Madsen extended her streak of games played with a 3-pointer made to nine.