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Women’s Basketball: Relief is in sight for UC Irvine, despite another loss

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Typically, a nucleus destined to yield this much promise at UC Irvine is being poked, prodded and studied at one of the school’s prestigious research laboratories.

But, even amid a 1-8 start and a losing streak that reached six with Sunday’s 87-64 nonconference home loss to San Diego, Anteaters Coach Doug Oliver is finding solace in the continued development of a young corps of talent that figures to render a cure to the program’s current struggles.

And Oliver believes the breakthrough should come sooner than later.

“Individually, we have some pieces,” said Oliver, who saw plenty of positives Sunday in the play of 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore Shereen Sunderland, 6-0 redshirt sophomore Mokun Fajemisin, and true freshman Tierra Hicks. “We have a couple kids who are getting better, but we have to stay the course. We are 1-8, and I’m not worried about it. At some point, we’re going to have a chance.”

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Sunderland, a transfer from Arizona, came off the bench to lead UCI with a career-high 17 points. She made six of nine field-goal attempts and was five for seven from the foul line against the tall, deep and athletic Toreros (9-1).

Fajemisin had 13 of her 14 points in the first half to help keep UCI within 32-25, until USD went on a 14-4 run in the final three minutes to secure a 46-29 halftime advantage. Fajemisin, who earned a medical redshirt in 2013-14 due to a knee injury, led the Anteaters with six rebounds in 20 minutes.

Fajemisin, whose older brother, Simi plays for the USD men’s team, led the ‘Eaters at 11.3 points and seven rebounds per contest, entering Tuesday’s home clash with Cal State Bakersfield.

Hicks, out of Las Vegas, had a career-best 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in 19 reserve minutes. She had the Anteaters’ only three-pointer, as the hosts were one for 11 from beyond the arc.

The youthful stable also includes Brittany Glassow, a 5-11 redshirt freshman who averaged 5.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while starting eight of the first nine games.

“Little by little, I think [Sunderland] is figuring it out,” Oliver said. “It had been almost two since she played [she had just 14 points in 11 games at Arizona in 20120-13 and sat out last season after transferring]. A couple things she did tonight showed progress on an individual level.”

Oliver said Hicks is improving quickly.

“When the light goes on for Tierra and she can fit within the team system, some time this year, she is going to be a really good player,” Oliver said.

And Fajemisin, who at times in the first half appeared to be the lone UCI player who could crack USD’s top-eight rotation, continues to lead the cause for long-term optimism.

“Mokun has ability,” Oliver said.

And while Oliver said senior starters Methlyn Onogomuho (8.8 points and seven rebounds per game heading into Tuesday) and Madison McKenney (five for 10 from the field Sunday, almost all from the perimeter), deserve no distraction from the focus on this season, the future is buoyed by a group of incoming recruits who figure to produce the majority of next season’s starting lineup.

“We’re looking at at least three starters from [the recruits],” Oliver said. “And when you add in [Fajemisin, Sunderland and Hicks], we’re going to have seven or eight players who can play at a high level in the Big West Conference.

“This season isn’t lost yet, but whatever happens, we have to be better for it.”

((

Nonconference

San Diego 87, UC Irvine 64

USD – Mal. Hood 22, May. Hood 14, Ederaine 9, Jelniker 8, Woodward 4, Hamilton 20, McDaniel 6, Williams 4.

3-pt. goals – Mal. Hood 4.

Fouled out – Williams.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Fajemisin 14, Onogomuho 4, Glassow 3, McKenney 10, Cheung-Sutton 0, Sunderland 17, Hicks 10, Kellum 3, Montgomery 2, Chavez 1.

3-pt. goals – Hicks 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – 46-29, USD.

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