COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Irvine Women Shoot Poorly Early, Lose

UC Irvine made only 19% of its field-goal attempts in the first half and never recovered in a 72-58 loss to New Mexico State in Big West Conference women’s basketball Saturday night in Las Cruces, N.M.

After making only six of 31 from the field in the first half, the Anteaters trailed, 39-15. They outscored the Aggies, 43-33, in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough to erase the deficit.

Paulina Blunt scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack for New Mexico State (9-1, 1-0); Anita Maxwell added 13 points and 16 rebounds. Allah-mi Basheer led Irvine (1-9, 0-2) with 15 points.

In another Big West Conference game:

Nevada Las Vegas 75, Cal State Fullerton 70--Trudie Hopgood scored 16 points to lead UNLV (8-2, 3-0). Autumn Hollyfield scored a game-high 26, including six three-pointers, for Fullerton (1-8, 0-3).

In nonconference women’s basketball:

Fresno Pacific 77, Chapman 61--Janee Young scored 30 points for visiting Fresno Pacific (8-5). Heidi Sorour had 25 points for Chapman (3-11), including four three-pointers.

At the Cal State Bakersfield Country Classic wrestling tournament:

Maes wins--Cal State Fullerton’s Jeff Maes defeated Joey Dansby, 4-3, at 126 pounds to win the Titans’ only championship. Fullerton’s Kenny Workman (142) and James Goswick (150) placed third, Dwayne Buth (190) fourth and Troy Monge (150) and Julius Reyes (heavyweight) fifth.

In nonconference men’s basketball:

Concordia 80, Occidental 77--Craig Martin scored 24 points, including three three-pointers, and Vujadin Jovic added 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Concordia (10-5).