STOCKTON, Calif.—A second-half comeback was not enough for Pacific women's basketball (4-2) as it fell to UC Irvine (4-2), 66-60, in its second and final game of the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off on Saturday.
 
Graduate student Cecilia Holmberg matched her season-high 15 points for the third time this season while grabbing five rebounds. Junior Anaya James notched 13 points and senior Liz Smith had 10.
 
The score was tied five times throughout the first quarter. UC Irvine went on a 9-0 run that stretched into the beginning of the second quarter to take a 20-11 lead. Smith and Holmberg contributed back-to-back baskets to bring the score within five, but the Anteaters kept climbing with six unanswered points, 26-15.
 
Holmberg responded with six-straight points of her own to make it a 26-21 game with 1:13 left before halftime. UC Irvine drained two consecutive three-pointers and went up at the break, 32-21.
 
The Tigers were held to just 28.6% from the field during the second quarter.
 
Pacific made adjustments in the third quarter. Coming out of the locker room, the Tigers outscored the Anteaters, 14-6, in the first five minutes. A layup and free throw from senior Kadie Deaton would bring Pacific within three, 38-35. But UC Irvine continued to build its lead with the next seven points, 45-35.
 
Pacific had another opportunity for the comeback in the fourth. Down by 11, freshman Nyah Lowery drained her first career three-pointer at 5:37 that sparked an 8-0 run. The Tigers were back to a three-point deficit as a result, 59-56.
 
Pacific got within two twice, its closest of the game, during the final three minutes thanks to two free throws apiece from Deaton and senior Rosie Schweizer. But UC Irvine put the icing on the cake with four straight free throws.
 
The Tigers shot 41.7% (20-48) from the field compared to the Anteaters' 45.3% (24-53).
 
Turnovers were a huge issue for Pacific, having committed 22 throughout the contest. Ten of them converted into 20 points for UC Irvine.  
 
The Tigers did have an advantage on the fast break as they scored 11 points in transition.
 
Up next, Pacific travels to Tempe, Ariz. for the Briann January Classic. The Tigers will play their first game against host Arizona State at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT on Friday.