"I think Irvine is much improved from the team we faced last year and of all the teams we have played so far, the most athletic," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "Our freshman as a whole really played well. The thing with this game was turnovers. Turnovers really killed us. We could never get in a rhythm."
The Redhawks kicked off the game with back-to-back steals, which Salena Dickerson (Federal Way, Wash.) would consecutively drive down the lane for an immediate 4-0 lead by Seattle U. UC Irvine would counter with a 4-0 run of their own, forcing three SU turnovers before the Redhawks could get back on the board with pair of Tatiana Heck (Lynnwood, Wash.) free throws.
As play progressed inside 15 minutes in the first half, the Anteaters began to play a much more aggressive game. UCI would go on a 17-6 run, before freshman Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) would make a second chance layup at 13:03.
Ward and classmate Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) would go on to be the team's top-scorers, with 11 apiece for respective career-highs. Both Redhawk newcomers provided a spark off the bench for Seattle U and gained valuable playing experience versus a tough and aggressive Anteater squad. In addition to her 11 points, Ward would tally seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Shephard would become a second half defensive menace, as she repeatedly forced the Anteater's guards to turn over the ball and lose possession.
Seven Seattle U turnovers in the first nine-and-a-half minutes resulted in 10 points for UCI, but the Redhawks kept the lead within reach. They would break up scoring runs by the Anteaters with jumpers, but were unable to capitalize on their brief offensive momentum.
Inside nine minutes, Irvine took a 22-14 lead. They controlled the tempo of play, forcing rushed passes by the Redhawks that resulted in turnovers or missed offensive opportunities.
Despite struggling to find their offensive rhythm, Seattle U continued to battle and work to find a way to score. Ward cut a three-minute scoring drought with a pair of baskets from the charity stripe, but UCI would continue to add to their lead making it a nine-point contest at 7:28, 25-16.
Dickerson would ignite the Redhawk offense, after another three minute scoring slump. She would steal the ball, follow through on a missed SU layup and send it into the basket. The forward would score four straight points to make it a nine-point game again, 29-20, in favor of UCI with just over four minutes remaining in the half. The Redhawks were unable to capitalize on Dickerson's momentum building play, as UCI would continue to counter with baskets of their own.
Dickerson would go on to score in double-figures for her fifth game, in nine straight starts. She also tallied six boards, five of them being offensive, a pair of steals and an assist in 26 minutes of action.
In the final minutes of the first half, UC Irvine would cruise to a 42-24 lead, behind a 60.7 shooting percentage (17-for-28) from the field. The Redhawks were held to just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) from the field and committed 17 turnovers, which the Anteaters materialized into 22 points.
Seattle U struggled early in the second half and the Anteaters would make it a 20-point game, before Bonvicini would make several personnel changes on the floor. She brought in the entire bench and it paid dividends immediately. Senior Julee Christianson (Missoula, Mont.) would guide the Redhawks on 4-0 run with 16:15 remaining in the contest.
Things began to click for Seattle U heading inside the 16-minute mark. The five on the floor began to play much more aggressive and would make it a 14-point contest, 44-30, with 15:11 left in regulation.
Shephard would turn on her game, forcing an Anteater turnover and driving the ball to the basket for her second field goal of the game. She would go on to score nine points in under four minutes to help bring the Redhawks within 11, 48-37, with 11:55 remaining.
The Redhawk freshman would continue to play aggressively on defense. With less than nine-and-a-half minutes left, she stripped the ball from the Anteaters and dished in a perfect pass to an oncoming Amani Butler (Corona, Calif.) to make it a 10-point contest, 52-42.
Seattle U would continue to battle as the second half headed inside 10 minutes. They continued to attempt a come-from-behind run, but for every Redhawk basket, UC Irvine would respond with one of their own.
UCI would establish their largest of the game, 64-43, with 5:16 remaining. The 21-point deficit would prove to be too much for Seattle U, as they were unable to chop down the Anteater's lead significantly again.
The youth of the Redhawk roster would see action on the floor in the final five minutes of play. They earned valuable playing and the SU freshmen of Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.), Shephard and Ward would account for eight of SU's final 12 points.
For UC Irvine, things clicked on all ends of the floor. They were led by Mikah Maly-Karros game-high 20-point performance. She would go on to post a double-double with 12 boards in the game and be one of three to score in double figures for UCI.
In the game, Seattle U outrebounded UCI 41-38, but could not make the most of their 22 offensive boards. The Redhawks improved their field goal percentage in the second half and shot 32.1 percent (18-for-56) in the game. They held the Anteaters to 30.8 percent in the second half, holding them to just under 50 percent in the game at 46.3 percent (25-for-45). Seattle U's offensive game struggled behind their 27 turnovers, which Irvine converted into 35 points.
The Redhawks will look to rebound in the Golden State this weekend, as they head to California for a three-game road swing. They will open with Sacramento State on Friday, Dec. 17, in a 7:05 p.m. contest. SU will close out the road trip with visits to Santa Clara (Dec. 19) and Saint Mary's (Dec. 21) before breaking for the holiday.