LA JOLLA, Calif.— Aishah Brown had another career night but it wasn't enough as UC San Diego fell to UC Irvine, 59-44, in a battle of the two unbeaten teams remaining in the Big West on Tuesday evening. Brown put up 18 points and a career-best 17 rebounds and six blocks—her second double-double in three games in RIMAC Arena.
 
Sydney Brown finished second on the team with seven points and added three assists, while Madison Baxter and Emily Cangelosi chipped in six points each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons (5-7, 2-1 Big West) got off to a slow start, falling behind 14-2 to begin the contest. Back-to-back baskets from Emily Cangelosi and Bridget Mullings gave UC San Diego some momentum and the Tritons held the Anteaters (8-6, 3-0 Big West) scoreless for the remaining five minutes of the first period to trail 14-7 at the break.
 
UC San Diego came alive in the second quarter, outscoring the Anteaters 16-6 on 6-of-12 shooting. Aishah Brown led the Tritons with seven points in the quarter, while Sydney Brown chipped in five and the Tritons took a 23-20 lead into halftime of the defensive battle.
 
The teams continued to battle to open the second half, with the Tritons extending their lead to as many as five before UCI closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 36-34.
 
The game remained a two-possession contest midway through the final quarter, before the Anteaters put together a 12-2 run down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Aishah Brown recorded career highs in rebounds (17) and blocks (6)—the sophomore has tallied 42 points and 43 rebounds over the past three games to begin Big West play
• A. Brown also recorded her second double double of the season with 18 points and 17 rebounds
• The Tritons were hindered by 15 turnovers compared to just six for UCI
• UC San Diego moves to 1-8 in the all-time series with the Anteaters
• For the second game in a row, UC San Diego's starters consisted of Madison Baxter, Aishah Brown, Sydney Brown, Brianna Claros and Emily Cangelosi. It is their fourth starting lineup this season.

UP NEXT
The Tritons will wrap up their four-game homestand—their longest of the conference schedule—playing host to Hawai'i on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT. As previously announced, Triton athletic competitions will proceed without spectators for all home games on the UC San Diego campus through Jan. 30. For more information and regular updates regarding attendance at UC San Diego athletic events, please click here.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.