Vandals will meet UC Irvine in quarterfinals of Big West tourney

The University of Idaho Vandals will face UC Irvine today at noon in the quarterfinals of the Big West Conference women’s basketball tournament at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center Arena.

The third-seeded Vandals (17-10) had a bye into the quarterfinals. UC Irvine (8-20), seeded seventh, advanced with a 75-63 win over sixth-seeded Utah State on Wednesday. In the other quarterfinal, fourth-seeded Cal State Northridge will face fifth-seeded UC Riverside, a 63-37 victor over Cal State Fullerton.

Idaho split the season series with the Anteaters, losing on the road (71-60) and winning at home (68-60).

UC Irvine 75, Utah State 63: Angie Ned scored a game-high 23 points as the Anteaters upset the Aggies (14-14) for their fourth win in five outings.

The Anteaters did most of their damage at the free-throw line, making a tourney-record 32.

UC Riverside 63, CS Fullerton 37: Kemie Nkele scored 29 points, including 19 in the first half, to lead the Highlanders (15-12) past the Titans (8-20) in the opening game of the tournament.

Nkele set a tournament record by making 12 of 14 field goals (85.7 percent), surpassing the 84.6 percent effort of Long Beach State’s Cindy Brown in 1986.