Dec. 21, 2005
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. - Lara Gray scored 13 points to lead four UC Davis players in double figures on Wednesday evening, and the Aggies held visiting Bethany University to just 10 points in the second half during a 76-36 nonconference women's basketball victory over the Bruins at The Pavilion.
UC Davis snapped a two-game losing streak with the win, improving to 5-5 overall. Bethany, which was led by 16 points from Sarah Kritscher, fell to 2-9. The meeting was the first-ever between the programs.
Gray was one of four Aggies to score at least 10 points. Ellen Porshneva had 12 points while Kimberly Smith and Genevieve Costello had 11. Every Aggie player got into the game and each played at least 13 minutes.
UC Davis trailed twice in the early going before assuming the lead for good on a three-pointer by Smith that put the Aggies up 14-12 with 13 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first half. UC Davis built the lead to as big as 34-14 before heading into the intermission with a 41-26 lead.
The Aggies shot 48.3 percent from the floor in the first half and hit five three-pointers but were outrebounded by the Bruins, 21-13.
"I know from talking to some people that Bethany plays really hard," said Aggie coach Sandy Simpson. "They dictated the flow in the first half of the game."
Gray had 11 points for UC Davis in the first half, including a pair of treys.
A 14-3 run by the Aggies to start the second half helped them forge a 55-29 lead with 13:39 to play and UC Davis never let the lead get closer than that the rest of the way. The defense helped increase the advantage by holding Bethany to just 16.7 percent shooting (4 of 24) in the second half, to only four points over the first 13 minutes of the half, and to just six points until the Bruins scored four points inside the final 1:06.
UC Davis outscored the Bruins 35-10 in the second half.
"This game served two purposes," said Simpson. "It got our attention and it allowed us to get everyone some court time and experience, and the value of that will show itself down the road."
Gray had two three-pointers in her baker's dozen while Porshneva was 5-of-8 from the field to key her 12-point effort. She also had a game-high five assists. Smith, who scored 23 points in the Aggies' tough 75-69 loss to Saint Mary's on Tuesday night in Moraga, hit a pair of three-pointers to help with her 11 points while Costello was 8-of-8 from the line as part of her 11 points.
Heather Bates added eight points for UC Davis while Jessica Campbell had four steals.
Kritscher, from nearby Woodland, posted her game-high 16 points along with four blocks and a game-best nine rebounds. Vanessa Irving added 10 points.
UC Davis returns to action on Dec. 28 when the Aggies face Southeastern Conference member Auburn in the first round of the Surf n' Slam Tournament in San Diego. The Aggies will face either Loyola (Md.) or host San Diego State in the championship or consolation on Dec. 30.
