Jan. 3, 2009
UC Davis game notes in PDF Format 
Big West Weekly Release in PDF Format
DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis women's basketball team embarks on its second year in the Big West Conference on Sunday when the Aggies host Cal State Northridge while simulataneously looking to end a five-game losing streak.
Tipoff at The Pavilion is 2 p.m. The game can be heard on KDVS (90.3 FM) or on www.ucdavisaggies.com.
The Aggies, whose last victory came in an 85-69 victory at Saint Mary's on Dec. 6, enjoyed a memorable first year in the Big West last season, finishing 12-4 and in second place during the regular season. UC Davis later advanced to the Big West Tournament Championship, eventually earning a berth into the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
The Aggies, 4-7 overall, are hoping for similar fortunes this season despite a rough month of December in which they opened with wins in two of their first three games before falling in their last five. Playing four teams that advanced to the postseason last year - including three that are currently nationally ranked - along with injuries to key players have also been factors.
UC Davis entered its inaugural Big West season last year in similar fashion, losing three straight and six of seven before opening league with a road loss at UC Riverside. The Aggies rebounded, however, to win four straight which helped vault them in the conference standings.
The Aggies have not played since losing 65-59 to visiting Seattle University last Tuesday, a game in which UC Davis dressed just eight players due to injuries. It held a second-half lead against the Redhawks before a 17-0 run by Seattle propelled them to a lead it would not relinquish. Lauren Juric led three Aggie freshmen in double figures, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Paige Mintun paces UC Davis with a 12.3 ppg scoring averaging while also grabbing a team-high 6.5 rebounds. Haylee Donaghe, who has missed the last three games due to injury, is averaging 11.6 ppg while guard Genevieve Costello - helped by a team-bet 16 three-pointers - is averaging 7.5 ppg. The Aggies, who lead the Big West with 6.0 three-pointers per game, have averaged 8.7 over their last three games.
Cal State Northridge opened Big West play on Friday night with a close 63-58 loss at Pacific. The Matadors trailed by 10 at halftime and by as many as 16 points before rallying to within three in the close loss. Guard Tonicia Tademy had 17 points, six assists and six steals for Northridge while guard Whitney Ligon, whose 10.6 average is best on the team, added 15 points.
The Matadors, who won just one game last year, are 3-11 overall heading into Sunday's matchup.
UC Davis, which recently ended a five-game road trip before facing Seattle, will return to the road next weekend when it continues conference action with games at preseason favorite UC Riverside and Long Beach State. The Aggies play five of their first eight Big West games on the road
