Feb. 12, 2009

Final Stats

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Davis held UC Irvine to just seven points in the first half on its way to a 19-point lead as the Aggies rolled to a 56-24 Big West Conference women's basketball win on Thursday night at the Bren Events Center, ending a five-game losing streak with a key road win.

The Aggies, who were led by 14 points from Paige Mintun and 10 points from Cortney French, improved to 8-14 overall and 4-7 in the Big West. They remain in a fifth-place tie with Cal State Fullerton which beat Pacific 62-51 on Thursday. UC Davis will play on the road against the Titans on Saturday afternoon.

UC Irvine, which only had four points until Rebecca Maessen hit a three-pointer with less than a half-minute remaining in the first half, fell to 5-19 overall and 2-9 in the Big West. Jovan Petrovic had five points to lead the Anteaters.

The points allowed were the UC Davis' fewest since a 108-24 win over Patten College during the 1996-97 season. Coupled with last weekend's overtime loss to UC Riverside, the Aggies have given up only 23 combined points in the first half and 71 points overall.

"All in all, it was a good defensive effort with good intensity and I thought we challenged their shooters on most shots," said head coach Sandy Simpson.

UC Davis jumped out to a big lead in the first half, holding the Anteaters without a point for more than five minutes to start the game, just two points for nearly 15 and then just seven for the half as the Aggies took a 26-7 lead at the break. UC Davis opened a 12-2 lead with 12:25 to go and then made it 22-2 with 5:45 remaining.

UC Irvine was just 3 of 29 (10.3 percent) from the field in the first half, a mark that included only one three-pointer in its first 14 tries. The Aggies shot 41.7 percent in the opening half and had just six turnovers before the break.

The margin continued to widen throughout the second half as the Anteaters were held without a point for nearly four minutes to start. Lauren Juric's jumper made it 45-15 with 7:30 remaining while Mintun and Kasey Riecks each scored later to give the Aggies a pair of 33-poiint advantages.

UC Davis, which shot 54.2 percent in the second half, finished at 47.9 for the game. The Aggies were also 6 of 18 from beyond the arc, a total helped by French who made 3 of 6. Her treys were just one off her career-high which she had against UC Irvine on Jan. 17; also the last time the Aggies posted a win.

Hana Asano had six steals for UC Davis while Mintun had three assists, three blocks and six rebounds. She was 7 of 12 from the floor after missing last Saturday's game against UC Riverside due to injury.

The Anteaters were nearly held below their previous season-low scoring total which came in a 75-23 loss at Arizona State in December.

UC Davis will play at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 5 p.m.