IRVINE, Calif, — The LIU women's basketball team is no stranger to playing on the road — it's something the Sharks have done in five of their first six games of the 2022-23 season.

Head coach Rene Haynes and the Sharks are embracing their challenging road schedule, one that brought them to the West Coast for a two-game slate against Big West opponents.

"It's a challenge we have accepted and we are taking it on," said Haynes. "These games are preparing us for conference play and we are embracing it."

The Sharks fell short to UC Irvine 65-56 on Friday afternoon. And Ashley Austin, the Compton, California native scored a game-high 19 points.

"She's back home in California, said Haynes." She's been consistent this season, she's a scorer, a great teammate and has the willingness to make plays for others."

Iris Mbulito played a strong defensive game. The graduate student grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for the Sharks.

LIU wraps up its California road trip against UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon before returning home to Brooklyn.