UC Irvine Women Lose Basketball Season Opener

UC Irvine got off to a good start in its season opener, but before the first half was over, the Anteaters had slipped, and Arizona went on to a 73-67 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at the Bren Center.

UC Irvine (0-1) led by nine, 20-11, midway in the first half. But Arizona (2-0) turned things around from that point on. The Wildcats went on a 20-6 run the rest of the half and were up at halftime, 31-26.

Irvine managed to take the lead once in the second half but it didn’t last. Karie Yoshioka made a three-pointer to put the Anteaters ahead, 42-41, with 13 minutes 53 seconds left, but Arizona rallied.

The Wildcats boosted the lead to 71-58 with 2 minutes 2 seconds left and held off comeback attempts by UC Irvine, which was hurt by poor free-throw shooting. The Anteaters made only 13 of 24, including six of 14 in the second half. Arizona made 20 of 26 free throws.

Yoshioka, a senior guard from El Toro High School, led UC Irvine with 22 points. She was eight of 16 from the field, including three of six on three-point attempts. Cher Scanlon added 13 points and Jinelle Williams had 12 points and 11 rebounds for UC Irvine.

Kim Conway had 19 points and eight rebounds and Jacinda Sweet added 15 points and seven rebounds for Arizona.