UC Irvine players celebrate after capturing the Big West Tournament title Saturday. (Photo courtesy UCI Athletics).
UC Irvine’s women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Championships for the second time in school history and first since 1995.
The No. 2-seeded Anteaters captured their second Big West Conference title and first since 1995 defeating No. 5 seed UC Davis, 53-39, in the 2024 Big West Championship final Saturday afternoon at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev.
UCI (23-8) receives The Big West’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Anteaters will find out their opponent during the Selection Show that starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 17 on ESPN.
UCI fans are invited to join the team for a public viewing party of the selection show Sunday at Newkirk Alumni Center, 450 Alumni Court on campus. The doors will open at 4 p.m. Parking for $15 will be available in the Mesa Parking Structure, lot 14, and lot 14A.
“First of all, big congratulations to UC Davis and (Coach) Jennifer Gross; she’s done this many times so to be able to get in the championship game with her again is always an honor,” UCI Coach Tamara Inoue told the media after the game. “I’m just really thrilled we came out on top in this one. I’m so proud of my team. We’re a special group and I wouldn’t go to battle with anyone else. We’ve made history twice now, so we are really excited about it.”
UCI junior Déja Lee, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, finished with a game-high 21 points, making 8-of-12 field goals including two 3-pointers. She also had six rebounds and two steals.
“It means everything to us because we’ve been working so hard all season for this moment,” Lee said after the game. “We had a couple setbacks but I’m just really proud of the way we bounced back. We learned from every game. The way we executed and figured it out in the second half, I’m really proud of us.”
A number of other players stood out for UCI Saturday
Graduate student Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba went 11-of-12 at the free throw line and finished with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Sidi Baba was named to the Big West All-Tournament Team.
Fifth-year senior Diaba Konate had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior Nevaeh Dean, senior Nevaeh Parkinson and junior Nikki Tom each had five rebounds.
Evanne Turner led UC Davis (20-14) with 18 points.
Source: UCI Athletic Media Relations
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