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IRVINE, Calif. – Kamilah Martin posted 12 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball team lost to UC Irvine, 64-52, on Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.
 
The 'Bows, who were hoping to complete a sweep of their three-game conference road swing, fell to 11-11 overall and 7-4 in the Big West Conference. The Anteaters improved to 6-17 overall and posted just their second Big West win to run their conference record to 2-9. With the loss, UH slips into a three-way tie for second place with Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara.
 
Martin's game-high 19 boards (nine on the offensive end) were overshadowed by UCI's Jennifer Tsurumoto who led all scorers with 27 points on 7-13 shooting and 10-12 from the free throw line.
 
Vicky Tagalicod (7 pts, 3 reb) kept the game close in the first half, draining a three-pointer to tie the score at 9-9. UC Irvine took control at the point, as a Tsurumoto three-ball capped a 10-0 run to give the Anteaters a 19-9 lead with 7:34 remaining in the half. UCI was hot beyond the arc, connecting on eight of 12 attempts from three-point land.
 
The 'Bows cut the UCI lead to 24-16 by halftime, but would see it swell to 15 points in the second half when Lauren Spinazze hit a three-pointer to give the Anteaters a 39-24 lead with 13:08 to play.
 
The 'Bows, undaunted, orchestrated a 9-0 run capped by a Diane Moore jumper to trim UCI's lead to just five points. They would be unable to sustain the momentum though, as the Anteaters went on a 13-2 run of their own and coasted to the win.
 
UH won the rebound battle 42-33 but could not overcome Tsurumoto's monster performance and 42% shooting from the field by UCI. Monica DeAngelis had eight points and Denstiny King added seven points and six rebounds.
 
UH now returns home to host a pair of games next week at the Stan Sheriff Center. The 'Bows take on UC Davis on Thursday, Feb. 14 then play Pacific two days later.