Women’s basketball: UCI takes on Toreros

The UC Irvine women’s basketball team will look to put an end to

its seven-game losing streak against the University of San Diego in a

nonconference match-up tonight at the Bren Events Center at 7 p.m.

The Toreros (6-3) head into the contest with a five-game win streak.

“They are a very up tempo team,” UCI Coach Mark Adams said. “For

having a record of 1-7, our team has a great attitude. We are still

working hard and playing together. We have put our record aside and are

trying to be a good basketball team.”

Leading the charge against the Toreros will be 5-foot-11 senior

forward Cindy Oparah, who is averaging 16.5 points and 12 rebounds per

game.

“I think Cindy has been the shining star in this thing,” Adams said.

“She has had a double-double in all eight games so far and that’s a

pretty amazing statistic for being an undersized post.”

In addition to Oparah, tentative starters for the Anteaters include

Brandy Hudson who is averaging 10.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds.

Erin Tomlinson, Kimberly Martin and Kristen Green are also probable

starters who will aim to help the Anteaters snap their longest losing

streak since the 1993-94 season when UCI lost 11 in a row.

“We just need to start playing complete games and not have stretches

where we are completely out of focus,” Adams said.

San Diego will counter with one of its top scorers, Erin Malich, who

had 16 points in the Toreros’ win Wednesday over Sacramento State, 84-60.

--Amara Aguilar