Pair Of Free Throws Wth 3.1 Seconds Remaining Gives 'Eaters 58-56 Win Over UC Riverside

Thursday, February 14

Riverside, CA

7:00 pm

University of California, Riverside

11-11, 4-7

UC Irvine

7-17, 3-9

Team	1	2	F
UC Irvine	26	32	58
UC Riverside	36	20	56

Pair Of Free Throws Wth 3.1 Seconds Remaining Gives 'Eaters 58-56 Win Over UC Riverside

2/14/2013 8:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Riverside—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team led for 39 minutes and 41 seconds Thursday evening at the SRC arena, but the visiting Anteaters overcame a 13-point deficit, and Jennifer Tsurumoto hit a pair of free throws with 3.1 seconds on the clock to give UC Irvine a 58-56 win. (Box Score)

The Highlanders (11-11, 4-7) shot 70 percent from the floor in the first half as they took a 12-point lead into the locker room at the break. Brittany Crain led a balanced scoring effort in the period with nine points while Natasha Hadley chipped in with eight, and Janelle Kearney scored six.

On the defensive end of the floor, UC Riverside could also do no wrong, holding the 'Eaters (7-17, 3-9) to 34.5 percent shooting while forcing nine turnovers. Camille Buckley almost single handedly kept UC Irvine in the game, scoring seven points, but more importantly grabbing 11 boards including seven on the offensive glass.

It was still a nine-point UCR advantage, 52-43, with 6:03 remaining in the game, and that's when the Anteaters made their move. Tsurumoto's free throws with 5:44 to go cut the lead to seven, and following a Highlanders turnover, her three pointer made it a four-point game, 52-48.

Buckley drew a foul on Irvine's next trip down the floor, and hit two free throws to draw to within two. The last time the Anteaters were that close was when the score was 6-4 early in the first.

Janelle Kearney stopped the run with a jumper in the lane with 4:32 to go, but less than a minute later Buckley's basket cut the lead in half again, and on Irvine's next possession, Cheyenne Cathey hit a jumper to tie the game at 54.

Neither team was able to score over the next two minutes and 18 seconds until Tsurumoto drove the lane for a lay up to give UCI its first lead of the game.

Tre'Shonti Nottingham got to the line on the Highlanders next offensive trip, making both shots to tie the game at 56.

The ball was in Tsurumoto's hand on the game's final possession, and she drew a foul with 3.1 seconds to go in the ballgame. She calmly hit both freebies for her 19th and 20th points of the game, and the Highlanders were unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

UC Riverside's defense was just as effective in the second period as it was in the first, holding the Anteaters to 31.0 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes of play. However, UC Irvine's defense held the Highlanders to 30.4 percent shooting in the period while connecting on 12 of 13 from the charity stripe.

Tsurumoto's 20 points led all scorers, and Buckley chipped in with a 14-point, 15 rebound double-double. Crain led the Highlanders with 14 points, and Hadley just missed out on a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

UC Riverside remains at home this weekend as the Highlanders host Long Beach State on Saturday at 5 pm PT.