UCI plays exhibition today

Anteater women’s basketball squad makes 2005-06 debut at home vs. Team Concept.The UC Irvine women’s basketball team will play host to Team Concept for a season-opening exhibition game today at 2 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.

The Anteaters, coming off an 8-21 season, are coached by Molly Tuter, who begins her first full season as head coach.

Tuter was 8-14 as the team’s interim coach last season. She took over when Mark Adams resigned after an 0-7 start.

UCI is led by junior guard Angie Ned, who earned second-team All-Big West Conference recognition after averaging a team-high 16.1 points as a sophomore.

Other returning starters include 6-foot-3 senior Lauren Yadon, 6-0 senior Kimberly Martin and 5-9 senior point guard Melissa Jacob.

Yadon averaged 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, when she started 24 games, tops among the returners.

Jacob averaged 9.8 points and a team-leading 3.8 assists as a junior. She also led the team with 43 three-pointers last season.

Martin joined the team midway through last season and played in 12 games, averaging 3.8 points and 2.0 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Annie Mai, 6-5 senior Joanna Usher and 5-10 sophomore Miranda Forry are additional returners with experience for UCI.

The Anteaters’ newcomers include 5-8 freshman guard Kirian Ishizaki, whom Tuter said will likely be the fifth starter, Kelly Cochran and Shakira Autry.

UCI was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Conference in preseason polls by the coaches and media.