Irvine Wins When Pacific Misses Shot

UC Irvine’s Megan Stafford saw two things Sunday. A wide open Pacific player heading toward the basket and a last-second, 35-foot shot that bounced off the rim.

Cathy Lauritzen’s desperate three-point attempt just missed as the Anteaters outlasted Pacific, 56-54, in Big West Conference women’s basketball.

The Anteaters (12-11, 7-5) are in second place in the Western Division with three games remaining against Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton and Pacific, all within in a game in the loss column. Irvine still has to play Fullerton and first-place UC Santa Barbara.

Lauritzen shot after Stafford had missed the front end of a one-and-one situation with four seconds left. What most of the players missed, including Lauritzen, was a wide open Eden Palacio.

“I looked up and saw her streaking down the court,” Stafford said. “It would have been an easy layup. I never saw the shot go up. I just saw it hit the rim. It was way too close.”

Irvine held Pacific scoreless the final 2 minutes 18 seconds. Stafford and Leticia Oseguera hit two free throws to give the Anteaters a 56-54 lead with 33 seconds left. Sarah Yarbrough then missed a three-point attempt with four seconds left.

Stafford, who was coming off a poor performance Friday against Long Beach State, had 15 points and seven assists. She was zero for nine from the field Friday, but made five of nine shots against Pacific.

Irvine scored the first nine points and led by as many 10 in the first half. Pacific (6-16, 5-6) had three turnovers and three missed shots in its first six possessions.

Pacific, which had made 29% of its three-pointers this season, made five of nine in the first half. The Tigers missed four attempts in the second half.

Palacio made all three of her attempts in the first half. She didn’t get an attempt in the second half and finished with 15 points. But the Anteaters shut down center Kate McAllister, who was averaging 15 points. She finished with seven and was one for five from the field.

Pacific also turned the ball over 21 times. Irvine had 12.

Oseguera had 12 points and Sabrina Roberson 10 for Irvine.