No late magic for ‘Eaters

IRVINE ? The same game-day routines, pregame rituals and sideline superstitions that had accompanied UC Irvine’s five-game women’s basketball winning streak were once again in place Thursday night.

But it wasn’t luck that ran out on the Anteaters.

Instead, it was execution in the final minute that helped UC Davis secure a 56-53 nonconference triumph to extend a winning streak of its own.

UCI Coach Molly Tuter said it was the Anteaters’ inability to execute in the closing seconds that sealed their fate.

The Aggies, who will become full-fledged members of the Big West Conference in the 2007-08 season, continued their pursuit of a mythical regular-season conference title by holding off the scrappy hosts.

The Anteaters (9-17), whose five straight conference wins helped them climb to third place in the Big West standings, used a 7-2 run to start the second half to pull even, 36-36.

But despite going 10 minutes and 20 seconds without a field goal ? a second-half span in which it converted just four free throws ? Davis managed to preserve its ninth straight win.

The Aggies (16-9) have now beaten each of the Big West schools at least once this season. They will not compete in the conference tournament.

Two free throws by UCI senior Lauren Yadon, who hit a pair of foul shots just 33 seconds before, pulled the ‘Eaters within 49-48 with 4:00 remaining.

Davis senior point guard Jackie Turpin converted a steal into a transition layup with 2:22 left, but UCI freshman Kelly Cochran scored with 1:21 remaining to pare the deficit back to one.

Davis, running the motion offense made famous by former Princeton men’s coach Pete Carrill, got the ball to the 5-foot-7 Turpin posting up in the paint against UCI senior guard Melissa Jacob. Backing in, Turpin gained position on Jacob, who fell backward attempting to draw the charging foul. Instead, it created a wide-open layup opportunity for Turpin, who converted with 50 seconds left.

After Cochran missed a three-point try on UCI’s next possession, Turpin was fouled and made both free throws with 25 seconds left.

UCI’s Miranda Forry extended the suspense by draining a three-pointer with 17 seconds left to pull UCI within 55-53.

Turpin, fouled intentionally, missed the first of two bonus free throws to keep the window open, but UCI did not work the play Tuter had ordered before its final possession.

Tuter said the play, knowing Davis would key on junior Angie Ned, called for Cochran, whose last-second field goal against UC Riverside on Feb. 4 began the winning streak, to get the chance at a potential game-tying three-pointer.

Instead, Ned wound up with the ball on the left wing with time ticking down.

With a defender squarely in front of her, Ned attempted a three-point shot that the defender deflected well short. Successive putback attempts by Stephanie Duda and Cochran also failed as time expired.

“We didn’t execute in the end when we had to,” Tuter said. “That wasn’t the play I wanted. My staff did an excellent job of drawing up a pretty sweet little play and it was [the players’] job to execute it. But we just didn’t get it done.”

Cochran did plenty in the final 20 minutes, collecting 10 of her career-high 17 rebounds and producing 10 of her 14 points.

“We know she’s a kid who likes to take those shots,” Tuter said. “She wants the ball in her hand.”

Duda showed a similar desire while collecting 11 rebounds to go with her six points. She also made three steals, contributing to the Aggies’ 21 turnovers.

Ned, a returning second-team all-conference performer leading the team in scoring this season (13.3 points per game), had 12 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Jacob added eight assists.

Despite shooting just 31.3% from the field (24.2% in the second half), UCI’s defense helped it remain in the game.

UC Davis made 12 of 23 field-goal attempts in the opening half, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range by Woodbridge High product Lara Gray. But the Aggies connected on only 6 of 22 from the field after intermission (27.3%).

Turpin had a team-leading nine rebounds and was one of three Aggies with 13 points.