University of the PACIFIC

A late first half comeback was not enough for the Pacific womens basketball team to edge out Big West rival UC Irvine Saturday night as they fell 68-57 on the road. Christina Thompson (Sacramento, Calif.) led all Tigers with 18 points. Sophomore Eliza Dy (Chino Hills, Calif.) also finished in double digits with 12 points and a team high three assists.

 

Pacific (3-12, 1-4 Big West) trailed by as much as eight in the first half (13-5) after Irvines Jade Smith-Williams put in a layup with 14:36 on the clock. Down 19-12 with under 11 minutes to play in the half, freshman Erica McKenzie (Sparks, Nev.) drained a three assisted by Dy to start the Tigers rally.

 

Dy made the first of two free throws to pull Pacific within one (19-18) at 9:08, but Irvine jumped ahead by five on back to back jumpers. It was a jumper by junior guard Jennifer Fath (Carrolton, Texas) at 7:42 that helped restart the rally.

 

Freshman Kendall Rodriguez (La Habra, Calif.) hit a jumper at 7:00 to play that pulled pacific to within one for a second time (23-22). Fath would tie the game (24-24) with 6:42 remaining after knocking in her second basket. McKenzie hit another three 30 seconds later to give Pacific its largest lead of the night, 27-24.

 

But the Tigers would not find the net for over five minutes while the Anteaters were a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line to regain the lead (28-27) before Jazmyne White put Irvine up by three (30-27) with 1:31 on the clock. Dy countered with a three 21 seconds later to tie the game for a third time on a pass from Fath heading into the break.

 

Pacific would strike first in the second half to take the lead, but Irvine controlled the remainder of the contest, shooting 50-percent from the floor and scoring 25 points off of turnovers.

 

The Anteaters were lead by Smith-Williams who had game-highs of 17 points and six assists. Rebecca Maessen and Keyonna Johnson each scored 14 points and Mikah Maly-Karros finished with a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds).

 

Irvine broke a five game losing streak against the Tigers with the win. They improved to 5-13 overall, 2-4 in the Big West.

 

Pacific returns to action next on Wednesday, Jan. 20 when they host Cal State Bakersfield in non-conference action. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. PST.