UCI’s Duda twists past Fullerton

Bryce Alderton

The nearly month-long dry spell the UC Irvine women’s basketball team

found itself in finally gave way to more lush pastures Saturday night

at Cal State Fullerton.

Led by a career-high 18 points by freshman reserve Stephanie Duda,

UCI claimed its first Big West Conference victory and just its second

win this season with a 69-57 victory over the Titans.

Senior guard Kristen Green scored 17 points, including a

career-high five three-pointers, while backcourt mate Courtney

Ferguson tallied 14 points, sinking three treys, to help the

Anteaters snap a six-game losing streak dating back to a 55-41

victory Dec. 20 against Sacramento State.

“This is awesome, a weight lifted off our shoulders,” said Duda,

who tied a career-high with nine rebounds while leading the ‘Eaters

with six steals. “This is what you work for in practice ... for this

feeling.”

The Anteaters (2-12, 1-5 in the Big West) defeated the Titans for

the 13th consecutive time, but first in nine tries with Maryalyce

Jeremiah at the CSF helm. Jeremiah is in the first year of her second

stint coaching the Titans.

Joanna Usher, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, set a career-high with eight

points while UCI also received six points from Lauren Yadon. Both

came off the bench.

“This is the most complete game we’ve had all year,” UCI Coach

Mark Adams said. “We didn’t have a lull except for the last minute

[when the Titans scored five quick points to narrow the ‘Eaters’

margin of victory].

“Something happened. We assumed responsibility tonight.”

The ‘Eaters took their first lead at 18-17 following a Green three

ball with seven minutes, 27 seconds left in the first half.

Fullerton’s 6-1 sophomore Amber Pruitt scored two of her team-high 10

points on a transition layup on the ensuing possession. But Fullerton

(2-12, 2-3) went cold the rest of the half.

The Titans failed to make a field goal the final 7:10 as UCI used

a 15-1 run to gain a 33-20 halftime edge. Fullerton committed five of

its 11 first-half turnovers in that span.

Duda, who scored 17 points in a 83-72 loss to Montana State Dec.

13, used her 5-10 frame to dive for loose balls while knifing her way

through defenders to either grab a rebound or tip a ball to a

teammate.

“She is a warrior ... she is tough,” Adams said.

Duda reached over a taller defender to grab a pass from Green,

turned toward the basket, and converted a layup to give UCI a 48-35

lead with 8:26 to go in the game.

Green and Ferguson got the most time at point guard, a position

that Adams has shuffled all year due to a litany of injuries, which

includes Jackie Lord’s career-ending knee injury.

The ‘Eaters used a man-to-man scheme to limit Tamara Quinn, who

had averaged 11.6 points heading into Saturday’s game, to seven

points on 3-of-8 shooting. Freshman guard Angie Ned (two points)

guarded Quinn most often as Adams used a quicker lineup to counter

Fullerton’s half-court offense.

Starters Christina Callaway and Ashley Biggins each scored two

points while Callaway grabbed eight rebounds.

Adams credited the weak-side defense as crucial to holding the

Titans to 57 points, seven less than UCI had allowed opponents this

season.

“These kids showed a lot of character,” Adams said. “The kids kept

the focus and intensity and this is the result.”

*--*

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 69, Cal State Fullerton 57

UCI -- Ned 2, Callaway 2, Biggins 2, Ferguson 14, Green 17, Duda 18, Urban 0, Yadon 6, Usher 8.

3-pt. goals -- Green 5, Ferguson 3.

Fouled out -- Callaway.

Technicals -- None.

CSF -- Holman 4, Underwood 7, Ortega 7, Keathley 3, Quinn 7, Pruitt 10, Sorrell 5, Moon 0, McDaniel 5, Wagner 9, Mosley 0.

3-pt. goals -- Wagner 3, Keathley 1, Quinn 1, Pruitt 1.

Fouled out -- Ortega, Quinn.

Technicals -- Quinn.

Halftime -- UCI, 33-20.

*--*