NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Senior Hunter Hernandez scored a career-high 31 points to lead UC Irvine to a 72-46 win over CSUN Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
 
Hernandez is the first Anteater to record a 30-point game since Jan. 23, 2021.
 
CSUN (4-4, 1-1 Big West) started strong, going up 7-2 before the 'Eaters responded with a 12-0 run to pull ahead for good. The Matadors were able to stay within striking distance after the first quarter, but UCI broke it open in the second period, outscoring the home team 21-4, to take a 37-15 lead at the half. UC Irvine held steady over the final 20 minutes, closing out its third-straight 20+ point victory.
 
The Anteaters extended their overall win streak to seven, improving to 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Big West.
 
"We're getting better," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "I thought we played well. We played a lot of small ball today so we really needed to focus, and not just take the first open shot, but work for another one."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Hernandez's career-high 31 points came on 11-of-25 shooting and an 8-of-9 performance at the free throw line. She also had eight rebounds.
 
Senior Jada Wynn recorded her second-straight double-double with 18 points and 12 boards. Wynn knocked down four threes and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.
 
"Those two are a one-two punch," Inoue said. "Them being able to step up this way really opens things up for everyone else. I think they did a great job."
 
Sophomore Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points (5-8 FG), while pulling down a season-best seven rebounds. Junior Shirel Nahum chipped in five points and four steals.
 
The 'Eaters forced 20 turnovers and outrebounded the Matadors, 48-34. They held a lopsided advantage in points off turnovers (22-6), points in the paint (28-18), and second-chance points (22-4).
 
Saray White paced CSUN with 10 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: CSUN pulled ahead 7-2 before UC Irvine scored seven unanswered, taking its first lead of the game on a Wynn 3-pointer at the 5:21 mark. The Anteaters extended that into a 12-0 run for a 14-7 cushion with 1:47 remaining. The Matadors then ended a six-minute scoring drought and kept their deficit at five (16-11) after the first quarter.
 
Hernandez took control in the second period, scoring 13 of her 19 first-half points. She accounted for UCI's first nine points to increase the margin to 25-13. Wynn added two of her four triples, while Zonzon-Huyghe closed out the quarter with a layup to give the 'Eaters a 37-15 cushion at the break.
 
UC Irvine continued to roll in the third frame, opening with a 7-0 rally to go on top 44-15 at the 5:55 mark. CSUN came back with an 8-2 spurt to make it a 21-point game, but Hernandez answered with a traditional three-point play, and the Anteaters outscored the Matadors 10-3 the rest of the way for a 56-30 lead.
 
Hernandez opened the fourth with a driving layup to give her a career-high 31 points. UCI went up by as many as 30 before closing out the 72-46 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the Bren Events Center next Saturday, Dec. 13, when it hosts California Baptist in a non-conference game at 2 p.m.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has won its last eight meetings with CSUN.
• This was only the second time the Anteaters trailed in a game that they won this season.
• The 'Eaters have limited each of their last six opponents to under 60 points, and their last three to under 50.
• UCI has held seven of its 10 opponents to at least one single-digit scoring quarter.
• UC Irvine has scored 22+ points off turnovers in each of its last three outings.
• Hunter Hernandez has reached double figures in scoring in seven-straight games.
• Hernandez now has 979 career points.
• Jada Wynn has a team-leading four double-doubles.