Nov. 23, 2009

UCI STAYS ON THE ROAD TRAVELING TO CAL STATE BAKERSFILED: The UC Irvine women’s basketball team will remain on the road traveling to Cal State Bakersfield Monday (Nov. 23) at 7:00 p.m.

VERSUS THE ROADRUNNERS: Cal State Bakersfield leads the series with UCI 2-1. The Roadrunners took both meetings last year winning 85-63 in Irvine and 43-67 in Bakersfield. The Anteaters won the first contest in the series, 74-61 in 2007.

LOOKING AHEAD: UCI will host Princeton Friday (Nov. 30) at 2:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

ANTEATERS PICK UP FIRST WIN: The Anteaters defeated Loyola Marymount 65-62 to pick up their first win of the season.

Senior Rebecca Maessen led UCI with a season-high 17 points. Senior guard Keyonna Johnson totaled 12 points which ties her career best followed by junior guard Jade Smith-Williams with 10 points and five assists. Freshman Jazmyne White came off the bench to add nine points, six rebounds, two steals and a block. Junior center Kim Basrnes had a team-high eight rebounds to go with six points. Freshman Lauren Spinazze chipped in seven points, including two three-pointers.

The Anteaters went on a 9-2 run to take a seven point lead with 2:53 remaining then had to hold off the Lions as they out-scored UCI 6-1to close within 64-62 with 23 seconds remaining. Jazmyne White was fouled with 14 ticks to go and knocked down a pair of free throws for the final score.

AMONG THE BIG WEST: UCI leads the Big West in three-point field goal percentage (.417) and three-point field goal defense (.174). The Anteaters also top the league in turnover margin with a +3.67 mark. The Anteaters are ranked second in scoring defense allowing opponents a 62.3 average.

Jade Smith-Williams ranks seventh in scoring (14.3), second in assists (5.33), steals (2.67) and three-point field goal percentage (.714). The junior guard is also sixth in free throw percentage (.846) and eighth in three-point field goals made (1.33). Freshman Lauren Spinazze leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.714) and is fifth in threes made per game (1.67). Center Kim Barnes is eighth in rebound average (5.7), while freshman Jazmyne White is tied for 14^th in rebounding (5.3) and tied for eighth in steals (2.0). Senior Rebecca Maessen is sixth in steals (2.33), eigth in free throw percentage (.778) and 14^th in scoring (11.3). Ka’Jahna Johnson for tied for eighth in steals with a 2.0 average.