RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's basketball team raced out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back in a 77-40 Big West-opening victory over UC Riverside Thursday evening at SRC Arena.
 
UCI (7-2, 1-0 Big West) cruised to the win after seeing their only active forward, Nohe'alani Stores, go down with an injury at the 9:05 mark of the first quarter. Less than a minute later, Lauryn Madsen buried a 3-pointer to start a 15-2 run. The Anteaters led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
The 'Eaters had another impressive defensive performance, holding the Highlanders to 11 first-half points.
 
"It was great to see the team collectively step up and finish the game strong after Lani went down in the first minute," UCI head coach Tamara Inoue said. "I thought everyone contributed and executed the game plan. I know Riverside is dealing with a lot right now (injuries), but it was nice to start conference with a win with everything we're going through too."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Hunter Hernandez finished with a game-high 16 points. Senior Jada Wynn also had 15 points and a career-best 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Wynn added four assists, four steals, and two blocks.
 
Junior Shirel Nahum notched 11 points, eight boards, and two assists, while freshman Ameerah Grant recorded season-bests of 11 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Lauryn Madsen, junior Haley Hernandez, and sophomore Reese Noa chipped in eight points each. It was a career high for both Hernandez and Noa.
 
UC Irvine set season bests with 15 steals and nine blocks. The 'Eaters forced 24 turnovers for the second-straight game. They capitalized on those miscues, outscoring UC Riverside, 27-8, in points off turnovers.
 
As a team, the Anteaters shot 41.7% overall and 85.7% at the free throw line. They limited UCR to 24.1% from the field. Hannah Wickstrom was the lone Highlander in double figures with 14 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine raced out to an 8-0 lead before UC Riverside got on the board at the 6:11 mark. The Anteaters then put together another 7-0 run, capped by Madsen's second 3-pointer for a 15-2 advantage with 3:28 remaining. UCI continued to roll as a pair of free throws from Grant and a Wynn triple made it 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Highlanders (1-6, 0-1 Big West) hit their first three to start the second period, but the 'Eaters outscored UCR, 16-2, the rest of the way for a 25-point cushion at the half (36-11). Haley Hernandez got the final bucket, knocking down a floater in the paint with seven seconds on the clock.
 
Wynn drained a triple to start the third frame before UC Riverside used a 5-0 spurt to make it 39-16 at the 6:48 mark. UC Irvine responded with five unanswered to go back on top by 28. The Anteaters never let up, pulling ahead 52-26 at the end of the quarter.
 
UCR closed to within 21 early in the fourth, but Noa sank a couple free throws and Hunter Hernandez followed with six-straight points to put UCI back on top by 27. After the Highlanders made 1-of-2 at the foul line, Grant connected from downtown to start a 15-4 rally for the 37-point win. Haley Hernandez scored UC Irvine's final six points of the game with an and-1 and a 3-pointer.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine stays on the road during Big West Bold Week with a 2 p.m. conference game at CSUN on Saturday, Dec. 6.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has led by at least 17 in all seven of its wins this season.
• The Anteaters have led wire-to-wire in six of those seven victories.
• The 'Eaters have held each of their last five opponents to under 60 points.
• UCI has held six of its nine opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter.
• UC Irvine won its Big West opener for the sixth-straight year.
• Hunter Hernandez had her sixth-straight double-figure scoring game.
• Lauryn Madsen has at least one 3-pointer in each of her last 11 outings (dating back to last year).