Box Score Jan. 28, 2010
Final Stats
DAVIS, Calif. - Kasey Riecks scored a team-high 14 points and UC Davis stayed atop the Big West Conference women's basketball standings with its seventh straight win as the Aggies beat visiting UC Riverside 54-50 on Thursday night at The Pavilion.
The Aggies, who last enjoyed a seven-game winning streak during the 2007-08 season, improved to 14-6 overall and 6-1 in the Big West. UC Riverside had its four-game winning streak snapped, falling to 7-13 overall and 4-3 in league. Amber Cox had 15 points to pace the Highlanders while Rhaya Neabors had 14.
The Aggies maintained a half-game lead in the Big West over Cal Poly, setting up a showdown for the top spot next week in San Luis Obispo.
UC Davis, which was coming off an overtime win last weekend, didn't trail after taking a 41-39 lead on Lauren Juric's three-pointer with 9 minutes, 47 seconds left but the Aggies weren't able to pull away. Rheya Neabors' three-pointer tied it 44-44 with 6:19 left but a 7-2 surge, capped by a free throw from Riecks made it 51-46 with under three minutes to go.
Trailing 53-50, UC Riverside had a chance to tie the game with 22 seconds to go but Paige Mintun stole a pass from Alyssa Morris and the Aggies were able to hold on the rest of the way.
UC Davis won its third straight tight game after beating Cal State Bakersfield by three on Jan. 18 and then going overtime with Pacific on Saturday.
The Highlanders led for most of the first half after taking a 10-9 lead on Rhaya Neabors' jumper early on. They twice took seven-point advantages, the last time coming at 25-18 with 3:54 left. But a 10-2 run to end the half, highlighted by a a three-pointer from Riecks and two late free throws from Vicky Deely gave UC Davis a 28-27 lead at the break.
The Aggies shot just 35.4% but had only 14 turnovers and had 11 assists on 17 baskets. Riecks continued her hot shooting from beyond the arc, hitting two treys and extending her streak with at least that many to five games.
Marisa Rivera had 10 rebounds for UC Riverside which had 19 of its 39 rebounds on the offensive end.
The Aggies will look to extend their winning streak when they face Cal Poly on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. The Mustangs improved to 6-2 in the Big West with its victory over UC Santa Barbara on Thursday.
