FULLERTON, Calif. – UC Irvine women's basketball picked up a big road win, defeating Cal State Fullerton, 77-71, Saturday at Titan Gym.
 
The Anteaters improved to 21-4 overall and 12-2 in conference. With results from around the league, the 'Eaters remain second in the Big West standings, sitting a half-game behind UC San Diego (13-2) and a half-game ahead of UC Davis (12-3).
 
Cal State Fullerton (15-10, 11-4 Big West) pulled ahead early and stayed out front until late in the second quarter. UCI took its first lead, which it would not relinquish, with 2:39 remaining in the half.
 
The Anteaters came out of the break ready to go, outscoring CSF, 11-3, through the first four minutes to go up by 10. They led by as many as 16 in the fourth period, and maintained a double-digit advantage until the final minute when the Titans made a late push, but it was too little, too late as Cal State Fullerton could not climb out of the hole, bringing its seven-game win streak to an end.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Hunter Hernandez finished with a game-high 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting (4-6 3FG). Hernandez also swiped a career-high tying five steals.
 
Senior Jada Wynn had her second-straight outing with five 3-pointers made. Wynn was 8-for-14 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc for 23 points. Freshman Nohe'alani Stores added 10 points (5-8 FG) and six rebounds. Junior Shirel Nahum dished out six assists.
 
The 'Eaters shot 49% (27-55) from the field and 52% (11-21 ) from distance, while holding the Titans to under 40% in both categories. Kya Pearson and Cristina Jones paced CSF with 15 points each. Jones also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: It went back-and-forth with three ties in the first four minutes. Cal State Fullerton then broke a 9-9 deadlock with an 11-3 run to pull ahead, 21-13, at the 3:26 mark. UC Irvine responded with six unanswered points and extended that into an 11-4 rally that made it a one-point game at the end of the first quarter (25-24).
 
The Titans stayed out front and increased their cushion to 32-26 early in the second period. The Anteaters then got hot from beyond the arc with Nahum connecting from distance before Hernandez knocked down back-to-back triples. That started a 17-6 spurt that gave the 'Eaters a 43-38 lead. CSF answered with a 3-pointer in the final seconds to close the gap to two at the half.
 
Hernandez kept the hot hand out of the break with her fourth trey to start the third frame. UCI continued to roll with an 11-3 run, capped by a pair of layups from Stores, to give the visitors a 10-point advantage (54-44). Cal State Fullerton closed to within four before Wynn buried another three and Hernandez tacked on three more points to put UC Irvine on top, 62-52.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Anteaters took their largest lead at 72-56 on a Wynn putback with 6:22 left. The Titans slowly started to chip away, but Wynn's fifth 3-pointer gave the 'Eaters a big boost, making it 75-61 with 2:57 to go. CSF was able to get it down to single digits over the final two minutes with a couple late threes, but time was on UCI's side in the 77-71 victory.
 
UP NEXT: The Anteaters will host Black & Blue Rival Long Beach State next Thursday, Feb. 19. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine has made 10+ threes in three of its last four contests.
• Hunter Hernandez leads the team with 11 20-point games and three 30-point performances this season.
• Jada Wynn recorded her seventh 20-point outing of the year.
• Hernandez and Wynn scored 20+ points in the same game for the third time this season.
• In the Anteaters' two wins this week, Wynn went 10-of-14 (71.4%) from 3-point range.
• Nohe'alani Stores had her first double-figure scoring game in Big West play.
• UCI has won six in a row against Cal State Fullerton and now leads the all-time series, 54-40.