IRVINE, Calif. – It went down to the wire, but for the first time since November, UC Irvine women's basketball fell short as they dropped a 68-66 decision to UC San Diego Saturday at the Bren Events Center.
 
The Anteaters (17-3, 8-1 Big West) saw an incredible 16-game win streak come to an end. It was the third-longest active win streak in all of NCAA Division I women's basketball heading into today's game. This was also UCI's first Big West loss and first home loss of the season.
 
It was almost a different story as the 'Eaters clawed their way back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a chance to win it at the buzzer.
 
The Anteaters closed to within one at 65-64 on a three from Summah Hanson with 1:57 remaining. The Tritons (13-6, 8-1 Big West) pulled back ahead by four before a Hunter Hernandez layup with 19.4 seconds on the clock cut that lead in half. UCSD then made a bad pass on the inbound and Jada Wynn came up with the steal. After calling a timeout to draw up their final play with 12 seconds left, it was Wynn who got a good look from beyond the arc, but her shot was just long.
 
"I was proud of our team for the way they fought in the fourth quarter," head coach Tamara Inoue said. "It's good to see that we're not giving up and that we're fighting until the very end. We got the shot we wanted and that's all good."
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Hunter Hernandez recorded her third double-double of the season with a team-best 19 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Summah Hanson also finished with a season-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting (2-2 3FG), to go along with seven boards.
 
Senior Jada Wynn added nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
 
The Anteaters went 23-for-54 (42.6%) from the field and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from 3-point range. They won the battle in rebounds (35-32), assists (16-13), and steals (9-7).
 
UCSD shot 41.1% (23-56) overall and 38.9% (7-18) from deep. The Tritons scored 24 points off 14 turnovers forced and held a 30-24 advantage in points in the paint. Rosa Smith (20) and Erin Condron (19) led the way as they combined for more than half of their team's points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: It went back-and-forth over the first five minutes with two ties and five lead changes. Hernandez buried a step back three to give UC Irvine a 10-8 edge. Just over a minute later Wynn knocked down her second triple and freshman Ameerah Grant followed with an and-1 as the Anteaters held their largest margin of the game at 16-8 with 3:56 remaining. The 'Eaters stayed out front, but UC San Diego closed the gap to five (20-15) down the stretch.
 
UCI struck first in the second with a jumper from Hanson. The Tritons then went on a 13-0 run to take a 28-22 lead at the 4:31 mark. The two teams traded buckets before sophomore Daniela Falcon Hernandez connected from distance and Wynn made 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to bring the home team within two. It remained close at the break with UCSD holding a 32-29 cushion.
 
The seesaw battle continued in the third frame. The Anteaters tied it up twice, including at 38-all with 5:27 left, but UC San Diego never relinquished the lead, scoring seven-straight points and taking a 50-43 advantage at the end of the quarter.
 
The Tritons started the fourth with a three for their largest lead of the game (53-43). Hanson then went on a personal 5-0 run to cut the deficit in half. UCSD went back on top by seven before a traditional three-point play from Hernandez made it 57-53 with 6:24 to play. The sides exchanged points until Hanson's big triple at the 1:57 mark brought the 'Eaters within one. The visitors made 3-of-4 free throws over a one-minute stretch to go up, 68-64, with 22.9 seconds on the clock. That set up the final stretch where UCI nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback with Hernandez's layup and Wynn's 3-point attempt that was just off the mark.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine hits the road next week, traveling to Hawai'i for a 7 p.m. (HT)/9 p.m. (PT) showdown with the Rainbow Wahine on Thursday, Jan. 29.
 
NOTES
• UCI and UCSD are tied for first in the Big West standings with identical 8-1 conference records.
• This was only the third time the Tritons defeated the Anteaters in their 17th all-time meeting.
• UC Irvine was handed its first loss since Nov. 12 at Idaho State.
• It was also the Anteaters' first loss at the Bren Events Center since Feb. 15, 2025.
• Hunter Hernandez has reached double figures in scoring in 17-straight games.
• Hernandez passed All-American Cheri Graham for No. 7 on UCI's all-time scoring list with 1,207 career points. 
• Over the last three games, Summah Hanson is averaging 12.0 points.
• Hanson made her season debut on Dec. 13 after missing the first 10 games of the year with an injury.
• Jada Wynn extended her streak of games played with a 3-pointer made to 18.