UC Irvine Holds Off Mustangs for 63-52 Big West Win

Friday, January 22

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

3:00 PM

5-4,1-2Big West

UC Irvine

6-5,3-0Big West

UC Irvine

Cal Poly

Photo by: Owen Main

UC Irvine Holds Off Mustangs for 63-52 Big West Win

1/22/2021 6:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Kirsty Brown surpassed her career high with a 15-point evening on Friday, and Cal Poly teammate Sierra Campisano also scored 15 points for the Mustangs, but the UC Irvine women's basketball team sprinted out to an early double-digit lead in Mott Athletics Center and held on down the stretch for a 63-52 Big West win.

Brown, a senior forward from Pleasanton, made 6 of 12 shots overall, including sinking her only 3-point attempt, and also secured eight rebounds.

?? Kirsty Brown off the window!! ?? #RideHigh ?? pic.twitter.com/kydeDS6jca
— Cal Poly WBB (@CalPolyWBB) January 22, 2021

Campisano recorded her fourth double-double of the year, finishing with 10 boards for Cal Poly (now 5-4 overall; 1-2 in conference). Meanwhile redshirt sophomore guard Maddie Vick distributed a team-leading four assists for the night.

UCI's Kayla Williams netted a game-high 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting, while Chloe Webb added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Anteaters (6-5; 3-0 BWC).

The Anteaters scored the first six points of the day en route to a 10-2 lead midway through the first quarter. Cal Poly battled back, moving to within 12-11, but UCI responded with a 9-0 run to take a 21-11 advantage.

?? Sierra with the spin move! ?? #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/mXrJT5l7ui
— Cal Poly WBB (@CalPolyWBB) January 22, 2021

After starting the second half trailing 28-18, the Mustangs fought back to move into the lead with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter, when Brown knocked down her 3.

Haleigh Talbert answered with a 3 of her own for Irvine, though, followed by yet another 3 from Dani Guglielmo to establish a 38-33 margin, and the Anteaters didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way while remaining unscathed in league play.

?? Abbey slicing through the defense for ?? #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/2F4FqRVJYR
— Cal Poly WBB (@CalPolyWBB) January 23, 2021

The two squads will return to the floor for Game 2 of the back-to-back matchups, set to tip off again at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Fans aren't permitted to attend due to regulations; however, the game will be live-streamed on BigWest.TV with Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer calling the action on GoPoly.com.