Eagles overwhelm UCI

Barry Faulkner

Without its projected starting floor leader, the UC Irvine women’s

basketball team’s attempt to defeat a more aggressive and efficient

Eastern Washington squad in Friday’s nonconference season opener

proved, well, pointless.

But the absence of sophomore Cal transfer Jackie Lord, sidelined

by a strained quadriceps muscle that Coach Mark Adams termed a

complication from knee surgery she underwent while at Brea Olinda

High, would be too simple a scapegoat for the Anteaters’

disappointing debut.

Among Coach Mark Adams’ concerns:

“We didn’t get our offense going,” evidenced by ill-advised shot

selection that produced just 39% field-goal shooting (23 of 59) and

left the hosts (0-1) with 22 turnovers.

“We got pounded on the boards,” said Adams, who saw the tallest

team in his seven-season tenure lose the rebounding battle, 46-33,

including 18 offensive boards for the Big Sky Conference’s Eagles

(1-0).

“[The Eagles’] offense was clicking [primarily in the second

half], but we gave up some things we shouldn’t have and they were

beating us in transition,” Adams added.

The Eagles, passing unselfishly and expeditiously, produced 14 of

their 17 second-half field goals inside six feet, including eight

layups, to shoot 56.7% the final 20 minutes and pull away in a game

that featured five ties and 13 lead changes.

Eastern Washington, which matched UCI’s 17-12 record last season

but split its two exhibition games, including a loss to Division II

Central Washington Nov. 14, had 10 fast-break points to the Eaters’

none, had twice as many second-chance points (18) and 21 points off

turnovers, to UCI’s 13.

Kathleen Nygaard, a 6-2 senior center, paced the visitors with 22

points and 14 rebounds, including seven offensive, while three other

Eagles scored in double figures. This despite Coach Wendy Schuller

revealing after the game they played without their projected starting

point guard, freshman Emily Boscacci, who has a fractured foot.

“Kat Nyaard is, I believe, the best post player in the Big Sky

Conference and one of the best on the West Coast,” Schuller said of

the returning first-team all-conference performer. “She had just

three shots [and six points] at halftime. I told our kids we had to

go inside to our bread and butter.”

UCI’s leading returner, 6-0 senior forward Christina Callaway,

helped the hosts stay within 36-35 with 10 first-half points. But she

played only nine second-half minutes, fouled out with 6:02 left, and

finished with just two rebounds to go with her 14 points.

Lauren Yadon, a 6-3 sophomore who had been beaten out of her

starting position during the preseason, scored 14 points to match

Callaway for team-high honors. Yadon, who made 7 of 10 field-goal

tries (the remaining Anteaters made just 16 of 49 for 32.7%) also had

a team-high seven rebounds in 23 minutes. She even impressed her

coach with some improved defensive footwork.

“Lauren gave us a spark, offensively, and she did a little better

on defense, which has been her Achilles’ heel,” Adams said.

Junior guard Courtney Ferguson had both UCI three-pointers and

sank all four foul shots for her 10 points, while senior teammate

Kristen Green had six points, seven assists and three steals.

Ferguson, who inherited much of the ball-handling chores, had six

turnovers.

UCI freshman Shayna Stanley, who started at the point in place of

Lord (as well as freshman Megan Aaker who sustained her second torn

ACL the first week of practice) had six points, but was 1 of 8 from

the field and had four turnovers in her collegiate debut.

*--*

Nonconference

E. Washington 81, UCI 67

Eastern Washington - Nygaard 22, Page 2, Moore 8, Bounds 13, Jamison 5, Ulmer 14, Chadd 10, Chaffee 7. 3-pt. goals - Ulmer 3, Bounds 1, Chadd 1. Fouled out - Moore. Technicals - None. UC Irvine - Callaway 14, Biggins 4, Ferguson 10, Green 6, Stanley 6,

Yadon 14, Urban 5, Usher 4, Ned 2, Duda 2. 3-pt. goals - Ferguson 2 Fouled out - Callaway. Technicals - None.

*--*