‘Eaters Journey to Tucson for Sunday Showdown

UC Irvine (1-0) at

Arizona (1-0)

Date: Sunday, Nov. 9
Time: 1 p.m. (PST)
Location: McKale Memorial Center (14,688) – Tucson, Ariz.

IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine ladies’s basketball embarks on their first street journey of the season as they head  to Big 12 member Arizona for a 2 p.m. (MT)/1 p.m. (PT) showdown on Sunday, Nov. 9. 

 

STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES

• UC Irvine by no means trailed in its 72-54 season-opening win over San Diego Wednesday on the Bren Events Center. Four Anteaters reached double figures in scoring, led by senior switch Jada Wynn and freshman Nohe’alani Stores, who completed with 17 factors every. Stores went 7-of-8 from the sphere in her collegiate debut, whereas Wynn was 9-of-9 on the free throw line and dished out a game-high seven assists. As a workforce, UCI shot 40.8% (20-49) total, 39.1% (9-23) from distance, and 82.1% (23-28) on the charity stripe. The ‘Eaters had 16 assists on their 20 made baskets.

• The Anteaters return seven letterwinners from final 12 months’s squad that went 21-10 total and 15-5 within the Big West (2nd). Leading the way in which is fifth-year senior Hunter Hernandez, who’s UCI’s solely returning starter. Hernandez earned her second profession first-team All-Big West honor after rating first on the squad in each scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg). It was a formidable comeback season for Hernandez as she missed all the 2023-24 marketing campaign recovering from a second ACL damage. 

• The six different returners mixed for 2 begins final 12 months. One went to Summah Hanson, who was named the 2024-25 Big West Best Sixth Player. Hanson appeared in all 31 video games, averaging 8.6 factors and 5.4 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per contest. In addition, the 6-foot-3 ahead was tops on the squad in free throw share (89.7%). She is presently sidelined with an damage. Shirel Nahum additionally made one begin in 29 appearances final 12 months. Daniela Falcon Hernandez and Lauryn Madsen performed in 22 and 23 video games, respectively, of their first collegiate seasons. Nahum, Falcon Hernandez, and Madsen had been all within the Anteaters’ beginning lineup within the 2025-26 opener.

• UC Irvine is trying to proceed probably the most profitable stretch in program historical past. The Anteaters have reached 20+ wins and positioned among the many top-two within the Big West common season standings in every of the final 4 years. Since 2021-22, the ‘Eaters are 91-38 total, and 61-15 in convention play. In the previous three seasons, UCI gained a Big West Championship (2023-24) and this system’s first Big West common season title (2022-23).

• The Anteaters and Wildcats will sq. off for the seventh time in program historical past, and first since 1993. All six of the 2 groups’ conferences got here between 1981 and 1993. The all-time collection is presently tied at 3-3. UCI will likely be in search of its first win over Arizona in Tucson.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Arizona (1-0) has 12 newcomers and just one returner, however is not missing in expertise as first-year head coach Becky Burke introduced in 9 transfers together with 4 graduate college students who’ve mixed for over 4,000 profession factors. Burke got here to Tucson from Buffalo the place she accrued a 61-37 file in three seasons on the helm. The Wildcats opened the marketing campaign with a 62-59 house win over UC Riverside on Thursday. Mickayla Perdue led UA with 17 factors, whereas Daniah Trammell added 13 on an ideal 5-of-5 efficiency from the sphere.

SERIES RECORD

UC Irvine and Arizona are tied of their all-time collection at 3-3. The two groups haven’t met since Nov. 28, 1993, when the Wildcats earned a 73-67 victory in Irvine. All three of UCI’s wins got here at house (1982, 1983, 1985).

LAST TIME OUT

UC Irvine kicked off the 2025-26 marketing campaign with a 72-54 win over San Diego Wednesday on the Bren Events Center. UCI hosted its annual Kids Day as native elementary faculties crammed the stands to cheer the Anteaters on to the 18-point victory. Jada Wynn and Nohe’alani Stores led 4 ‘Eaters in double figures with 17 factors every. In her collegiate debut, Stores went 7-of-8 from the ground. Wynn was additionally 9-of-9 on the free throw line and dished out a game-high seven assists. Hunter Hernandez had 13 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Lauryn Madsen went 4-for-8 from deep for a career-high 12 factors. Madsen added a team-leading eight rebounds. 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

UCI was picked second in The Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the third-straight 12 months. The Anteaters obtained 4 first-place votes and 90 whole factors in a slender race with Hawai’i, which gained the 2024-25 Big West regular-season title. The Rainbow Wahine (91) additionally obtained 4 first-place votes and got here in a single level forward of the ‘Eaters. UC Davis was picked third with 83 factors (one first-place vote), whereas UC San Diego had two first-place nods however took fourth with 77 factors. UC Santa Barbara (61) rounded out the highest 5. Hunter Hernandez was named to the All-Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team. Hernandez is the convention’s solely returning All-Big West first-team choice. She averaged 13.1 factors and 5.5 rebounds final 12 months.

MID-MAJOR RANKINGS

UC Irvine was receiving votes within the College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Preseason Poll. Fellow Big West member Hawai’i got here in at No. 25, whereas non-conference opponents Northern Arizona and Bowling Green had been additionally featured within the RV part.

20-20 VISION

Last 12 months, the Anteaters went 21-10 for his or her fourth-straight 20-win season. Since 2021-22, UCI is 91-38, marking one of the best four-year stretch in program historical past. Prior to that, the ‘Eaters recorded 20+ victories in 1983-84 and 1984-85. They then went by way of a 34-year drought till head coach Tamara Inoue led UC Irvine to twenty wins in her third season on the helm (2018-19). Her squad additionally went 21-12 in 2021-22, completed with a school-record 25 victories in 2022-23, and went 23-9 in 2023-24.

DEFEND THE BREN

Since 2017-18, UCI is 82-26 (.759) on the Bren Events Center. Last 12 months, the ‘Eaters went 12-2 on the Bren, tying the single-season college file for house wins. The Anteaters have 15 house contests in 2025-26.

NEW LOOK

UC Irvine may have a brand new look in 2025-26. Five members of the Anteaters’ core group that led them to four-straight 20-win campaigns graduated after final season. UCI reloaded with a younger squad that options eight underclassmen, together with 5 who’re of their first season on the NCAA stage.

LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

UC Irvine has change into a powerhouse in The Big West underneath Tenth-year head coach Tamara Inoue. The Anteaters positioned among the many top-two within the convention in every of the final six years, together with the primary regular-season title in program historical past in 2022-23. Since 2020-21, UCI has not misplaced greater than 5 convention video games in a season, combining for a league-leading 72-19 (.791) file throughout that stretch. The ‘Eaters additionally superior to the championship sport of the Big West event 3 times within the final 5 years, successful all of it in 2023-24.

DEFENSIVE IDENTITY

UCI has ended every of the final three seasons ranked among the many top-15 within the nation in scoring protection. The Anteaters closed out the 2024-25 marketing campaign at No. 10 with 54.3 factors allowed per sport, whereas they had been additionally fifth in subject aim share protection (35.4%). UC Irvine held its opponents to 60 factors or much less in 21 of its 31 contests. In 2023-24, the ‘Eaters ranked 14th in all of NCAA Division I in scoring protection (55.7 ppg). In addition, their school-record 53.2 factors allowed per sport in 2022-23 was seventh-best within the nation.

CHASING 1,000

Senior Hunter Hernandez has 835 profession factors, placing her 165 away from changing into the sixteenth member of UC Irvine ladies’s basketball’s 1,000-point membership. If she accomplishes the feat, it might be the second-straight season an Anteater reached the 1K milestone as Déja Lee did it in 2024-25.

THE GOAT

Tamara Inoue has cemented her legacy as probably the most completed head coach in program historical past. On Feb. 27, 2025, Inoue earned her 159th profession victory to surpass Dean Andrea (1979-1991) as UCI’s all-time winningest head coach. Inoue owns a 162-116 profession file in her nine-plus seasons on the helm. She has led UC Irvine to a pair of Big West Championships, 4 of the Anteaters’ 5 nationwide postseason appearances, their first victory in nationwide postseason event (WNIT), 5 of their seven 20-win campaigns, and single-season college information in each total (25) and convention (16) wins.

TAKING THE LEAD

Fifth-year senior Hunter Hernandez is UC Irvine’s solely returning starter. Last season, Hernandez was tops on the squad in each scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg). The 5-foot-9 guard has 42 profession double-figure scoring video games together with 5 20-point performances. She poured in a career-high 29 in a 72-55 victory over William & Mary on Nov. 11, 2024. In addition, she owns 5 profession double-doubles. Hernandez is a two-time first-team All-Big West choice (2024-25 and 2022-23), whereas she made the All-Freshman Team in 2021-22. She missed the 2023-24 season recovering from a second ACL damage.

STATEMENT DEBUT

Freshman Nohe’alani Stores made a press release in her collegiate debut. The 6-foot-2 ahead tied for the workforce lead with 17 factors, whereas knocking down 5 rebounds within the Anteaters’ 72-54 season-opening win over San Diego. Stores, who performed 23 minutes, was extraordinarily environment friendly, going 7-of-8 from the sphere. 

FAMILY TIES

Senior Jada Wynn returns house for the ultimate season of her collegiate profession. After spending the final two years at Texas Tech, the Yorba Linda native is again in Orange County and able to play in entrance of her household. One member of the family will likely be on the bench as Jada is the eldest daughter of UCI assistant coach Derek Wynn. She brings a wealth of expertise after serving to the Lady Raiders advance to the quarterfinals of the WBIT in 2024-25. She was additionally a member of Colorado’s NCAA Sweet 16 workforce as a freshman in 2022-23. In her UC Irvine debut, Wynn had 17 factors (9-9 FT) and a career-high seven assists.

SHARPSHOOTER

Sophomore Lauryn Madsen set profession highs in each factors (12) and rebounds (8) within the first sport of the season. Madsen went 4-for-8 from past the arc within the Anteaters’ 72-54 win over San Diego. In 23 profession video games performed, Madsen has now knocked down a 3 in 14 of them, and drained a number of threes 4 occasions. The 5-foot-11 guard graduated from Warden High School in Washington as this system’s all-time main scorer.

ON POINT

Junior Shirel Nahum is anticipated to tackle the start line guard function after the commencement of two-time first-team All-Big West choice and 2023-24 Big West Player of the Year Déja Lee. Nahum earned Big West All-Freshman Team honors two seasons in the past and has intensive worldwide expertise. Most not too long ago, she helped Israel to a sixth-place end on the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket. In 2023, she was the fifth-leading scorer on the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship (17.0 ppg).

FRENCH CONNECTION

Sophomore Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe (La Roche-sur-Yon, France) joins the Anteaters in 2025-26, making it the fourth 12 months in a row UCI ladies’s basketball has had a local of France on their roster. Zonzon-Huyghe involves UC Irvine after a formidable 12 months at Arizona Western College the place she was an NJCAA second-team All-American, first-team all-conference, and first-team all-region choice. She averaged 15.6 factors and seven.1 rebounds in 27 video games performed for the Matadors final season.

POST PLAY

UC Irvine has a pair of underclassmen trying to make an affect within the submit this 12 months. Sophomore Daniela Falcon Hernandez is anticipated to play a much bigger function after averaging 1.5 factors and 0.7 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per outing as a redshirt freshman in 2024-25. The 6-foot-2 ahead scored a season-high 9 factors (3-5 FG) at Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 6. Falcon Hernandez spent one 12 months at Utah however didn’t play. Freshman Nohe’alani Stores additionally has the flexibility to contribute instantly. Originally from the Bay Area, Stores graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. An damage hampered her senior season, however the 6-foot-2 ahead was nonetheless named a 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game nominee.  

SUMMAH TIME

In her first 12 months at UC Irvine, junior Summah Hanson was named the 2024-25 Big West Best Sixth Player. She appeared in all 31 video games, averaging 8.6 factors and 5.4 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per outing. The 6-foot-3 ahead additionally led the Anteaters in free throw share (89.7%). She missed solely seven free throws on 68 makes an attempt. Hanson took house UCI’s lone Big West Player of the Week award final season. 

INCOMING GUARDS

UCI brings in three freshmen guards. Kianna Wormly was a three-time first-team all-district choice and 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game nominee at Vista Ridge High School in Texas. Ameerah Grant is a 5-foot-4 level guard who was a three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 3 all-state choice at Brown Deer High School. She graduated as this system’s all-time main scorer with 2,071 profession factors. Despoina Baltzi, a 5-foot-8 level guard, involves Irvine from Rhodes, Greece. She represented her nation on the 2025 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket and the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship. 

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR

UC Irvine has 5 worldwide student-athletes, all from totally different nations – Summah Hanson (Australia), Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe (France), Despoina Baltzi (Greece), Shirel Nahum (Israel), and Daniela Falcon Hernandez (Spain). 

UP NEXT

UC Irvine will keep on the street, making its method to Idaho State for a 7 p.m. (MT)/ 6 p.m. (PT) sport on Wednesday, Nov. 12.