LONG BEACH, Calif. – It was a close game until the fourth quarter when Long Beach State outscored UC Irvine, 25-7, to run away with a 73-52 victory Saturday at the Walter Pyramid.
 
The Anteaters (19-9, 13-5 Big West) opened the final frame with a 3-pointer to pull even at 48-48, marking the eighth tie of the afternoon, but they went cold over the final nine minutes where they made just two field goals on 19 attempts. UCI's struggles, coupled with the best offensive quarter of the game for the Beach, resulted in LBSU's first win over the 'Eaters in two years.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Hunter Hernandez was UC Irvine's only double-digit scorer as she finished with 14 points. Junior Olivia Williams and senior Déja Lee added seven points each. Lee also had four assists and three steals.
 
Senior Nikki Tom notched a team-high six rebounds and four steals.
 
The Anteaters shot just 26.3% (20-76) from the floor and 18.8% (6-32) from beyond the arc. They were also outrebounded, 54-37.
 
LBSU, which went 9-for-13 (69.2%) over the final 10 minutes, closed out the afternoon at 45%. They also shot 47.4% from distance and 71.4% at the free throw line. Patricia Chung led all players with 21 points, and Rachel Loobie pulled down 18 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Long Beach State (15-12, 11-7 Big West) scored the first seven points of the game before Hernandez got UC Irvine on the board with a jumper at the 6:21 mark. The Beach went back on top by seven before a 9-0 run, capped by a Lauryn Madsen 3-pointer, gave the Anteaters their first lead at 13-11. LBSU pulled even in the final minute as the two teams ended the opening quarter in a 13-13 deadlock.
 
It continued to go back-and-forth in the second period with five tie scores and four lead changes. UCI took a 19-16 advantage on a Williams jumper before Long Beach State used a 7-2 spurt to pull ahead, 23-21, with 5:03 remaining. The home team stayed out front until a triple from Ines Gnahore gave the 'Eaters a 28-27 edge. The Beach proceeded to score the final five points of the half to go up, 32-28.
 
After LBSU increased its margin to 37-30 early in the third frame, UC Irvine reeled off seven unanswered with a Lee triple tying it up at the 7:24 mark. Long Beach State responded once again, this time with a 9-0 run for a 46-37 cushion. Hernandez then ended a five-minute scoring drought with a 3-pointer and Williams followed with a three of her own to spark an 8-2 rally that closed the gap to 48-45.
 
Hernandez knocked down another three to tie it up on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but the Beach then scored 12-straight points to build a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine closes out the regular season at home next week, hosting UC Davis on Thursday, March 6 (6 p.m.), and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, March 8 (1 p.m.). The Anteaters will recognize their four seniors following Saturday's game.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine gave up more than 70 points for just the second time this season.
• The Anteaters have lost more than four Big West regular season games for the first time since 2019-20.
• UCI's four-game win streak against the Beach came to an end with its first loss in the all-time series since Feb. 24, 2023.
• Nikki Tom is the first 'Eater in program history to surpass 200 career steals.
• Déja Lee increased her career steals total to 196, which is tied for second in school history.