In her sophomore season of 2008-09, Paige Mintun achieved the unprecedented feat of leading UC Davis women’s basketball in all five major categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals. While only one item on a long list of accomplishments, it encapsulates the versatility and athleticism Mintun brought to the post position... and to the Aggie program.
Originally from Valley Center, California, the 6-foot-2 Mintun earned first-team All-Big West Conference three times. She was the first Aggie to achieve such a feat, and remains one of only two to do so, along with recent standout Sydnee Fipps. Furthermore, Mintun twice made the all-tournament team at the Big West Conference championship, including tournament MVP honors in 2011. Mintun captured the Hubert Heitman Award as the school’s outstanding female athlete of the year as a senior.
Bigger than these individual stats and awards was the impact she had on her team’s success. The Aggies qualified for the WNIT in 2007-08, their first year of eligibility, then returned to that stage two years later on the back of a 21-11 record – UC Davis’ first 20-win season in almost a decade.
However, that second WNIT trip was merely an appetizer for the 2010-11 season. It was the “super-senior” year for both Mintun and wing Heidi Heintz. Head coach Sandy Simpson had announced it would be his swan song. Thus, expectations were high throughout the season.
The Aggies lived up to the promise by capturing the conference title with a 66-49 victory over Cal Poly, securing a berth in the NCAA round of 64. For her part, Mintun scored a game-high 20 points against the Mustangs en route to the her West tournament MVP nod.
By her career’s end, she ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Entering this upcoming season, Mintun remains the only player to appear on each of those four lists.
