SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Jada Wynn scored 20 points as UC Irvine held off UC San Diego 70-68 in a Big West women’s basketball game Saturday at RIMAC Arena. The Anteaters, who led by as many as 15 in the second half, survived a late push from the Tritons. UC San Diego’s Lev Feiman hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds left to cut the deficit to two, but got no closer. Hunter Hernandez added 18 points for UC Irvine. Makayla Rose led the Tritons with 16 points. The Anteaters, now 23-4, avenged a two-point loss to UC San Diego last month. The Tritons fell to 18-8. Both teams shot under 40% from the floor, but UC Irvine’s 29-of-35 performance at the free-throw line proved decisive.

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — In a taut rematch of a game decided by two points just four weeks prior, the UC Irvine women’s basketball team exacted a measure of revenge Saturday, edging UC San Diego 70-68 in a pivotal Big West Conference clash at RIMAC Arena. The victory, witnessed by 783 fans, tightened the conference race and avenged a 68-66 home loss to the Tritons on Jan. 24. It improved the Anteaters’ overall record to 23-4, while UC San Diego fell to 18-8. The game’s defining sequence unfolded in the final 13 seconds. With UC Irvine clinging to a 65-63 lead, UC San Diego’s Sabrina Ma committed a critical turnover, stolen by Irvine’s Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe. The French guard was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four with 10 seconds remaining. The Tritons answered swiftly, as Dymonique Maxie found Lev Feiman for a 3-pointer with seven seconds left, slicing the deficit to 67-66. After a timeout, UC Irvine’s Jada Wynn was fouled and made both free throws, pushing the lead back to three. UC San Diego, out of timeouts, could not get a clean look at a tying 3-pointer. A final heave was off the mark, and the Anteaters secured the road victory. The contest was a study in contrasting styles and resilience. UC San Diego dominated the opening quarter, leveraging its size advantage to build a 24-17 lead behind efficient interior play. The Tritons finished with a 38-24 edge in points in the paint. However, UC Irvine’s defense stiffened, and its proficiency at the free-throw line proved decisive. The Anteaters, despite shooting just 37.3% from the field and 21.4% from 3-point range, attempted 35 free throws, making 29. UC San Diego, by contrast, was 12 of 14 from the line. That 17-point disparity ultimately outweighed the Tritons’ superior field goal percentage. UC Irvine guard Jada Wynn led all scorers with 20 points, including several key baskets and free throws down the stretch. Hunter Hernandez added 18 points for the Anteaters, while Shirel Nahum contributed 12. For UC San Diego, Makayla Rose paced the offense with 16 points. Erin Condron, the 6-foot-4 center from Australia, recorded a strong all-around performance with 14 points and was a force defensively. Lev Feiman provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, including the late 3-pointer that brought the Tritons within one. The game featured 14 lead changes and eight ties, with neither team leading by more than seven points after the first quarter. UC Irvine’s ability to force 13 turnovers and convert them into 19 points, compared to UC San Diego’s 12 points off 14 Anteater turnovers, provided a crucial, narrow margin. The win solidifies UC Irvine’s position atop the Big West standings as the regular season enters its final weeks. Both teams continue conference play on Thursday, with UC Irvine hosting Cal State Northridge and UC San Diego traveling to Cal State Bakersfield.

Preview: UC Irvine Faces UC San Diego in Key Big West Women’s Basketball Clash SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A high-stakes Big West Conference rematch is set for Saturday when the No. 15-ranked UC Irvine Anteaters visit the UC San Diego Tritons at RIMAC Arena. The Anteaters (22-4, 11-2 Big West), one of the nation’s top mid-major teams, enter on a five-game winning streak, including a 77-62 victory over Long Beach State on Thursday. Their potent offense, which has scored 77 or more points in three of their last five outings, will be tested by a Tritons squad that handed them one of their two conference losses this season. UC San Diego (18-7, 10-3) edged UC Irvine 68-66 on Jan. 24 in Irvine. That result tightened the conference race and gives the Tritons confidence heading into the home leg of the series. They are coming off a 79-68 road win at UC Riverside on Feb. 14. A player to watch for the Tritons is Lev Feiman, who erupted for 20 points in just 20 minutes off the bench in the win over UC Riverside. Her scoring spark provides a key complement to consistent performers like Makayla Rose, who had 24 points in that game. UC Irvine has been dominant since the late-January loss to UCSD, winning by an average margin of 19.2 points during their current streak. Their balanced attack has overwhelmed most conference foes. This matchup features the league’s top two teams in the standings and could have significant implications for seeding in the upcoming Big West tournament. UC San Diego will aim to protect its home court and complete the regular-season sweep, while UC Irvine seeks to avenge its earlier loss and solidify its hold on first place. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. PST on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.