Payton Scores 19 Points in UC Irvine Victory

Junior Nikole Payton, in only her 11th college start, scored 19 points and had three assists as UC Irvine defeated Pacific, 56-35, in a Big West Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at UC Irvine.

Pacific (5-10, 1-3) threatened to make it close, pulling to within seven with 12:47 remaining in the game. But UC Irvine (8-8, 3-2) pulled away with a 23-10 run.

Leticia Osequera scored 14 points and had seven rebounds for UC Irvine.

Eden Palacio scored 13 points for Pacific.

In another conference game:

Cal State Fullerton 61, Cal State Long Beach 59--Kris Sigg had 14 points, four assists and three rebounds for Cal State Fullerton. The Titans (6-10, 3-2) held the 49ers (4-11, 1-3) to 37% shooting from the field, making 23 of 62.

Justine McMahan added 13 points and Nashira Shaw 10 for the Titans. The 49ers were led by Kesha Wade with 12 points and Tomika Cantley, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

In nonconference women’s basketball:

Concordia 93, Christian Heritage 62--Jamie Gast scored 20 points and had six rebounds in a victory for Concordia. Teammate Allison Fortner scored 17 points for Concordia.

The Eagles are 16-4.

Sarah Cisneros scored 16 points for Christian Heritage (4-14).