UC Irvine Women Upset Arizona, 68-61

The UC Irvine women’s basketball team, playing without two starters and down to just six players in uniform, upset the University of Arizona, 68-61, Saturday night in Crawford Hall to win the Newport Beach Marriott Holiday Tournament.

Natalie Crawford, a 6-foot 6-inch sophomore center, scored 24 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 5 shots to lead the Anteaters (5-3). Crawford was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Irvine guard Valerie Dehn added 18 points.

Arizona drops to 9-2, its only other loss coming to Missouri. UCI’s All-America center Cheri Graham is out indefinitely with a broken wrist, and forward Zalina Walton will miss the rest of the season with cartilage damage in her knee. Kippie Brown, a reserve guard, has a sprained ankle but should return to the team next week.

Pepperdine beat Utah State, 103-85, for third place.

In community college action:

Golden West College 80, Cabrillo 78--Karen Chase made a basket and Kim Abeyta made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to help the Rustlers to a win over the Tigers in the championship game of the Cuesta Invitational in San Luis Obispo. High scorers for Golden West (8-2) were Stacey Barnes (25 points) and Shanna Beer (18 points). Mary Fales scored 25 points for Cabrillo (10-2).

Orange Coast 79, Snow Utah 58--Mary Beth Thobe scored 22 points, Lisa Shumaker had 15 points and Amy Hathcock added 13 points to lead the Pirates (9-3) to the win in the consolation semifinals of the Citrus Far-West Tournament at Azusa Pacific College.