Women’s Basketball: ‘Eaters riding wave

Momentum has typically been a difficult thing to attain for the UC Irvine women’s basketball program. But against NAIA visitor San Diego Christian on Saturday, the Anteaters clearly satisfied their urge to surge.

UCI used a 15-2 run to help forge a double-digit first-quarter lead and then parlayed a 16-1 burst in the second quarter to help cruise to a 78-49 nonconference win at the Bren Events Center.

It was the second straight win for UCI (3-5), and its 29-point victory margin was its best in nearly two years, dating back to a 37-point drubbing of La Verne in January, 2014.

Shereen Sutherland, a 6-foot-2 senior coming off her first career double-double in Sunday’s home win over Nevada, had 17 points and nine rebounds, while making eight of 11 field-goal tries, to lead the winners.

Junior Mckenzie Piper had 11 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Teirra Hicks and junior Irene Chavez had 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench for UCI.

Senior guard Raelyn Cheung-Sutton, who came in sixth in the country with 7.3 assists per game, had seven points and five assists in just 18 minutes.

Tayla Jackson, a 6-3 freshman starting in place of injured senior Mokun Fajemisin (hamstring), chipped in seven points and six rebounds to help the hosts post a 48-29 advantage on the glass.

UCI shot 48.5% from the field (22 for 68), and was 30 for 53 from inside three-point range (56.6%) as its top seven scorers combined to go 30 for 48 from the field (62.5%).

Hicks, who played just 16 minutes, had a team-best five steals and also collected three rebounds, one blocked shot and one assist as UCI led by as many as 32.

“I’m glad we got this one out of the way and it was a win,” UCI Coach Doug Oliver said. “And I don’t have much frustration in any part of our play.”

UCI did match San Diego Christian’s 17 turnovers and was three for 15 from three-point range, where it is now shooting just 21.7% for the season.

But San Diego Christian (5-3), which classified the game as an exhibition and had lost its previous two contests, was never really in the contest. The Hawks shot 32% from the field, 21.4% from threedom (three for 14) and managed just seven assists.

Oliver was particularly pleased with his team’s rebounding, despite missing Fajemisin, whose 9.1 boards per game rank second among Big West Conference players.

“We were moving around well inside, once we got a little better feel,” Oliver said. “We rebounded the ball above everyone. Shereen used her athleticism, and Piper helps us when she uses her strong body to bang into people and get her hands on things.”

UCI will try to remain on its recent roll on Monday, when it plays host to Grand Canyon University at 7 p.m. to wrap up a four-game home stand.

The Anteaters then play six straight road games, beginning with a Wednesday clash at UCLA.

—

Nonconference

UC Irvine 78, San Diego Christian 49

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SDC 12 8 14 15 – 49

UCI 22 20 18, 18 – 78

SDC – Braeutigam 10, Giesselbach 14, Perales 4, Egberuare 4, Vargas 0, Traver 5, Arndt 4, Fandino 4, Wolfback 3, Crespin 1.

3-pt. goals – Giesselbach 1, Fandino 1, Wolfback 1.

Fouled out – Crespin.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Sutherland 17, Mckenzie 11, Jackson 6, Cheung-Sutton 7, Santana 6, Hicks 11, Chavez 10, Knox 5, Glassow 3, Kellum 2.

3-pt. goals – Sutherland 1, Chavez 1, Knox 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.