LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Irvine women’s basketball team secured a 78-59 road victory over Long Beach State on Thursday night at Walter Pyramid in a Big West Conference game. The Anteaters built a commanding lead early, outscoring the 49ers 22-16 in the first quarter and 19-13 in the second to take a 41-29 halftime advantage. UC Irvine then put the game away with a 25-point third quarter. Hunter Hernandez led all scorers with 21 points for UC Irvine, while teammate Jada Wynn added 20. Rosie Akot scored 18 points to pace Long Beach State. The Anteaters forced 22 turnovers and converted them into 27 points, while also making 11 three-pointers. UC Irvine improved to 14-2 overall. Long Beach State fell to 1-13. An announced crowd of 639 attended the game.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Irvine women’s basketball team used a dominant first half and a stifling defensive effort to cruise past Long Beach State 78-59 in a Big West Conference game Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid. The Anteaters, who entered the game with a 13-2 record, never trailed and built a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter, showcasing the form that has made them one of the conference’s top teams. The 49ers, struggling through a difficult season, could not overcome a sluggish offensive performance and a barrage of turnovers. UC Irvine set the tone early, opening the game on a 9-3 run. Hunter Hernandez, a guard from San Jose, California, and Jada Wynn of Yorba Linda, California, provided the initial spark. Hernandez connected on a pull-up jumper for the game’s first points, and Wynn soon followed with a three-pointer assisted by Lauryn Madsen. Despite an early three from Long Beach State’s Judit Oliva Fernandez, the Anteaters’ defensive pressure began to take its toll. The most important stretch of the game came late in the first quarter, as UC Irvine extended its lead from 14-11 to 22-16 by the period’s end. After a layup from Long Beach State’s Rosie Akot cut the deficit to three, the Anteaters closed the quarter on an 8-0 run. Hernandez hit another three-pointer, and after forcing a turnover, Madsen buried a three at the buzzer to give UC Irvine a six-point cushion and significant momentum. That momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Anteaters’ defense completely overwhelmed the 49ers. UC Irvine forced eight turnovers in the period, converting them into easy scoring opportunities. The Anteaters outscored Long Beach State 19-13 in the quarter, holding the home team to just five field goals. By halftime, UC Irvine had built a commanding 41-29 lead. The Anteaters put the game out of reach with a 25-point third quarter, their highest-scoring period of the night. Hernandez and Wynn continued their efficient scoring, while the team’s ball movement led to open looks. Even when Long Beach State showed brief signs of life, cutting the lead to 10 points midway through the quarter, UC Irvine responded with a 9-2 run to push the advantage back to 17. The 49ers never got closer than 15 points in the final period. Hernandez led all scorers with 21 points, adding a block and a steal in 35 minutes of action. Wynn was equally impactful, scoring 20 points and dishing out five assists. Their backcourt combination proved too much for Long Beach State to handle. For the 49ers, Akot, from Adelaide, Australia, led the way with 18 points and two blocks. Oliva Fernandez, of El Prat De Llobregat, Spain, recorded a unique stat line of 11 points, five assists and five blocks, while Kennan Ka of San Diego added 12 points and six assists. The statistical story of the game was written by UC Irvine’s defense and efficiency. The Anteaters forced 22 Long Beach State turnovers, converting them into 27 points. They also shot 44% from three-point range, making 11 of 25 attempts, and were relentless at the free-throw line, hitting 19 of 24. In contrast, Long Beach State managed only five free throw attempts all night, making them all, and committed seven more turnovers than assists. With the victory, UC Irvine improves to 14-2 overall and 3-0 in Big West play. Long Beach State falls to 1-13 and 0-3 in the conference. The Anteaters will look to continue their strong start when they host Hawaii on Saturday. Long Beach State travels to face Cal State Bakersfield the same day.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging UC Irvine women’s basketball team, boasting one of the nation’s most potent offenses, will look to extend its winning streak against a struggling Long Beach State squad when the Big West Conference rivals meet Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid. The Anteaters (13-2, 2-0 Big West) enter on a seven-game win streak, having dominated their early conference schedule. Their latest victory was a 64-51 decision over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. UC Irvine averages 74.7 points per game during its streak, winning by an average margin of 21.3 points. The catalyst is junior guard Hunter Hernandez, who is playing at an All-Conference level. Over her last five games, Hernandez is averaging 25.8 points, including a 36-point outburst at UTEP and a 27-point, 11-rebound performance against Cal State Bakersfield. She scored 26 in the win over Fullerton. Conversely, Long Beach State (1-12, 0-2) has found consistent results hard to secure. The 49ers’ lone win came against NAIA opponent Hope International on Dec. 29. They are coming off a 63-49 loss at Cal Poly, where they shot just 30.4% from the field. Long Beach State has lost its two conference games by an average of 14.5 points. The 49ers will rely heavily on guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who has been a bright spot. She averages 18.4 points over her last five contests, including a 25-point game against Portland and a 23-point effort in the win over Hope International. She played 39 minutes and scored 13 points in the loss to Cal Poly. The matchup pits the conference’s hottest team against one seeking its first Division I victory of the season. UC Irvine’s high-powered offense, led by Hernandez, will test a Long Beach State defense that has allowed 75.2 points per game this season. Following this game, UC Irvine will host Hawaii on Saturday. Long Beach State travels to face Cal State Bakersfield the same day. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at the Walter Pyramid.