Santa Barbara has too many answers for the UCI women

UC Irvine’s women’s basketball team took it on the chin Thursday

night at UC Santa Barbara as the Gauchos jumped to a 13-point lead

and steadily pulled away fro a 77-58 Big West Conference victory.

Lauren Yadon had 20 points and Christina Callaway had 12 points

before fouling out, but that was really the bulk of UCI’s firepower.

Santa Barbara, 14-3, 7-1 in the Big West, had four players in

double figures, and outrebounded the Anteaters, 51-31.

UCI fell to 11-7, 4-3.

In high school basketball Thursday:

* Corona del Mar’s girls posted a 55-42 Pacific Coast League

victory over visiting Laguna Beach behind the sterling play of Jordan

Otterbein and Jackie McCoy.

Otterbein had 18 points, 15 rebounds and was the defensive key

with five steals coming from CdM’s press.

“She just had a great game,” said CdM Coach James Barkalow. “She

was really the spark we needed.”

Also a major factor was McCoy with 15 points and a dominating

presence on the offensive boards.

CdM improves to 9-11, 4-2 in the PCL. Laguna Beach falls to 6-13,

2-4.

* Brethren Christian dealt visiting Sage Hill School 48-40

Academy League defeat, using a 17-8 fourth quarter for the edge.

Kevin Fitzhugh had 18 points for Sage Hill, 8-11, 3-3 in league.

Brethren Christian improved to 11-9, 3-3.

The Lightning hosts St. Margaret’s on Tuesday. St. Margaret’s (5-0

in league) is working on a 19-game winning streak. It will start at

7:30 p.m.

* Sage Hill School’s girls were 37-28 Academy League winners over

visiting Brethren Christian as Katie Puishys scored a career high 18

points and had a career high 18 rebounds.

Also excelling for Sage Hill, 11-4, 3-3, were Haywood Wright (10

points, 11 boards and a season high seven blocks) and Carrie Clark

(six rebounds and three assists.

Sage Hill entertains league-leader St. Margaret’s Tuesday at 6

p.m.