LAS CRUCES, N.M. – UC Irvine women's basketball took down New Mexico State, 83-66, for their ninth-straight victory Tuesday evening at the Pan American Center.
 
The Anteaters (10-2) matched the longest win streak in program history. They have been dominant during the nine-game stretch where they own a +20.9 scoring margin and have held a lead of at least 17 points in each outing.
 
NM State (3-7) pulled ahead early and led by one at the end of the first quarter. It went back-and-forth over the first three minutes of the second period before the 'Eaters outscored the Aggies, 15-6, for a nine-point advantage at the break. UCI kept its foot on the gas in the second half, going up by as many as 23.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Freshman Ameerah Grant led four Anteaters in double figures with a season-high 19 points. She went 4-for-5 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line.
 
Senior Jada Wynn was 6-of-9 with three 3-pointers for 17 points. Sophomore Lauryn Madsen had her second game this season with five threes made as she tied her career high with 15 points. Senior Hunter Hernandez added 13 points, seven rebounds, and a season-best five assists. Freshman Nohe'alani Stores chipped in nine points, while junior Summah Hanson had five points and a game-high eight boards.
 
The 'Eaters shot 46.2% overall and 48.1% from distance with a season-high 13 3-pointers made. They were also 22-of-24 (91.7%) at the free throw line. UCI outrebounded New Mexico State, 33-27.
 
Lucia Yenes paced the Aggies with a game-high 22 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: New Mexico State struck first and pulled ahead 10-3 at the 6:25 mark. Wynn then buried back-to-back threes to make it a one-point game. The Aggies stayed out front until a personal 5-0 run by Grant gave UC Irvine its first lead at 14-12 with 3:34 remaining. It proceeded to go back-and-forth down the stretch with NM State going up, 18-17, at the end of the first quarter.
 
The seesaw battle continued in the second period with three lead changes and three ties over the first three-plus minutes. Wynn broke a 26-26 deadlock with a couple free throws and the Anteaters continued on a 15-6 run to take a 41-32 advantage at the half. Madsen and Shirel Nahum both knocked down a triple during that stretch.
 
The 'Eaters stayed hot in the third frame, shooting 47% from the field with four 3-pointers. Madsen's fourth three of the game and second of the quarter started a 7-1 spurt that put UCI on top, 55-40, with 3:23 to play. UC Irvine maintained a 15-point advantage heading into the fourth (63-48).
 
The Anteaters started the final period with back-to-back treys from Hanson and Madsen to increase their cushion to 69-48 at the 7:42 mark. It was a deficit New Mexico State couldn't come back from as the 'Eaters ran away with the 83-66 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine makes its way to El Paso, Texas, for its non-conference finale at UTEP on Thursday, Dec. 18. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (MT)/6 p.m. (PT) at Don Haskins Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is the first Big West team to reach 10 wins this season.
• The Anteaters are 10-0 when leading at halftime.
• Ameerah Grant is the fourth 'Eater in program history to shoot 100% at the free throw line with at least 10 makes.
• UCI has three or fewer misses at the foul line in seven of its 12 games.
• Hunter Hernandez has reached double figures in scoring in each of her last nine outings.
• Lauryn Madsen had her sixth game with 4+ 3-pointers made this season.
• Jada Wynn surpassed the 500-point benchmark in her career.