Anteaters surging toward tournament

Chris Yemma

In a season filled to the brim with ever-changing circumstances, one

thing was for certain following Saturday night’s home-closing victory

at the Bren Events Center.

The near end of the season could have been a lot worse. The

Anteaters strung back-to-back wins together for the first time all

year after an 81-74 victory over Big West Conference visitor Utah

State, just two days after an upset over Idaho.

UCI has played itself to the cusp of qualifying for the eight-team

Big West tournament. But, with two games left, it is yet to be a lock

with Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly still in the race.

But Saturday’s win over the Aggies (14-12, 9-8 in conference) did

nothing but help the ‘Eaters (6-19, 5-11). Junior Melissa Jacob had a

game-high 24 points, sophomore Angie Ned had 19 points and senior

Ashley Biggins, playing in her last home game for UCI, posted 18

points on 6-of-7 shooting.

It hasn’t been the ideal season for UCI interim coach Molly Tuter,

but Saturday’s win was acceptable.

“I hoped right now we’d be undefeated and be able to send

[Biggins] off an All-American,” said Tuter, who took over in December

when former coach Mark Adams resigned.

“But to be able to reach this point, to get back-to-back wins ...

it’s special.”

Biggins, one of three seniors in their last home game, was the

only one to play, with both Katie Sturgeon and Courtney Ferguson out

with knee injuries. Biggins also grabbed seven rebounds and was 6 of

7 from the free-throw line, including 3 of 4 in the crucial last

seconds when Utah State had no choice but to foul.

When asked if this is what she hoped for playing in her last home

game, Biggins seemed satisfied.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” she said. “Especially with the season we’ve

had so far. We’ve had ups and downs throughout the whole season, so

definitely. There was no doubt in my mind we were going [to defeat]

them.

“Coming off the win against Idaho was huge for us. It gave us so

much momentum.”

Thursday’s win was also monumental for the 6-foot-4 center. She

drained a career-high 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and pulled down a

game-high eight rebounds.

Jacob led the ‘Eaters Saturday, scoring nine points in the last

minute on clutch free-throw shooting that held the sturdy UCI lead

up. She also opened the game hitting two three-pointers early, one to

pull UCI within 19-16, while climbing out of an 18-11 hole.

In a season that had an 0-9 start, the Anteaters have managed to

pull out wins in the second half that have put them in contention for

the Big West tournament. But because of the circumstances of the

season, Tuter said it’s hard to approach the last few games as

must-wins.

“I don’t think with this team, the way they started off this year

and our current situation -- I don’t think we can ‘must-do’

anything,” she said. “I don’t think anybody expected much out of us

at all and I think we’re giving people a run for their money now.”

.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 81,

Utah State 74

Utah State -- Tressler 16, Freeman 12, Aird 6, Richards 20,

Quinones 6, Rutledge 3, Brox 2, Zdenek 4, Hagen 5.

3-pt. goals -- Tressler 4, Richards 1, Rutledge 1, Hagen 1.

UCI -- Yadon 4, Biggins 18, Mai 3, Ned 19, Jacob 24, Forry 4, Tull

3, Martin 6.

3-pt. goals -- Mai 1, Ned 1, Jacob 2, Tull 1.