THIS WEEK...
GAME 13: UC Davis (5-7, 0-0 Big West) at CSUN (10-4, 0-0 Big West)
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Northridge, Calif. -- The Matadome
TV: ESPN3.com
RADIO: KDVS 90.3 FM
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | Video (ESPN3) | UC Davis Notes | CSUN Notes

GAME 14: UC Davis (5-7, 0-0 Big West) at Long Beach State (13-1, 0-0 Big West)
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015
2:00 p.m.
Long Beach, Calif. -- The Walter Pyramid
RADIO: KDVS 90.3 FM
Game Coverage: | Audio | Video | UC Davis Notes | LBSU Notes

TIP-OFF: Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Following five straight games away from home -- which included back-to-back games against Pacific-12 Conference powers -- the UC Davis women's basketball team (5-7 overall) returns to the road after its first home game in nearly a month, taking on the top two teams record-wise in the Big West Conference to open league play. The Aggies travel to Northridge to take on the defending champion Matadors on Thursday (Jan. 8) at 7 p.m., before facing Long Beach State on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 10) at 2 p.m.

IN THE POLLS: Entering this week's contests, UC Davis and CSUN are unranked in the national polls... Long Beach State is receiving votes (10) in the latest Associated Press poll... According to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, Long Beach State is No. 11, while CSUN is No. 19.

"HI, MOM!": For those unable to make the trip to Southern California for the Aggies' Big West Conference opener at CSUN, the game will be streamed live over the Internet courtesy ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. A direct link to the broadcast is posted on the women's basketball schedule page.

BE A FOLLOWER: Fans can keep up with the latest in UC Davis Athletics by "liking" us on Facebook (facebook.com/UCDavisAggies) and following us on Twitter (@UCDavisAggies). You can also "like" the women's basketball program on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/UCDavisWomensBasketball as well as follow them on Twitter (@UCDavisWBB) and Instagram (instagram.com/ucdaviswomensbasketball). Game Day in-game updates are also available on Twitter by following us @UCDavisInGame.

"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?": Thanks to a partnership with Arizona-based Stretch Internet, live Internet audio will be available for all of the Aggies' contests this season, as well as broadcast locally on KDVS 90.3 FM with Greg Wong and Brian Fuller on the call. Visit the women's basketball schedule page at UCDavisAggies.com to access the links.

"YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE...": Bringing together live and on-demand video from each of the Big West Conference's nine member institutions, BigWest.TV covers Big West sports, press conferences, interviews, and features, including every home and conference contest. Now in its 11th year, BigWest.TV will again air all of the Aggies home and conference clashes FOR FREE during the 2014-15 campaign. Log on to www.bigwest.org/thisweek for weekly schedules or visit the women's basketball schedule page at UCDavisAggies.com.

I NEED STATS, STAT!: New-look live stats for all UC Davis home games, as well as selected road contests, are available on your computer and mobile device courtesy the StatBroadcast platform. Visit the women's basketball schedule page at UCDavisAggies.com or the StatBroadcast landing page at UCDavisLiveStats.com to access the links when the games begin.

ABOUT THE MATADORS: Defending Big West Conference champion CSUN enters the week with a 10-4 overall record, posting an 86-63 win at Seattle to start the New Year following back-to-back losses against Florida Gulf Coast (73-64) and Saint Joseph's (61-54) on the East Coast... The Matadors are a perfect 6-0 at home with wins over Idaho, Sacramento State, Portland, Montana State, Texas Southern, and Pepperdine... Senior guard, and reigning Big West Player of the Year, Ashlee Guay leads a trio of CSUN players in double figures, averaging 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.67 assists per game, shooting .403 from the field and leading the team with 20 steals... Janae Sharpe (14.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .425 FG%) and Cinnamon Lister (12.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .387 3P%) join her in that group... The Matadors average 68.1 ppg while holding opponents to just 61.1 ppg, and lead the Big West in free throw percentage (.747), field goal percentage defense (.371), and blocked shots (4.14 bpg).

ABOUT THE 49ERS: The conference leader heading into the start of league play, Long Beach State enters the weekend with a 13-1 overall record, having won 11 consecutive contests -- including a win over nationally ranked California -- since its only defeat at the hands of USC back on Nov. 21... The 49ers topped Pacific-12 Conference foe Colorado on Dec. 30 by the score of 62-56 in their last outing... Long Beach State is 7-1 at home this season, winning its last six home contests at the Walter Pyramid... sophomore guard Raven Benton leads the offense at 11.1 ppg and is joined in double figures by sophomore guard Anna Kim, who averages 10.7 points a night... The 49ers average 69.9 ppg as a team while holding opponents to a Big West low 60.1 ppg, and lead the league in three-point defense (.219) and steals (6.00 spg).

SERIES NOTES: Dating back to the 1970-71 season, UC Davis leads the all-time series with CSUN by a 17-14 count, splitting the two regular season contests with the Matadors last season with each school winning on the other's home court... The Aggies fell, 56-52, at home before posting an 82-74 shootout victory in Northridge... UC Davis is 11-4 against CSUN since its inaugural Big West campaign in 2007-08, including a 5-2 mark on the Matadors' home floor... Long Beach State leads the all-time series with the Aggies by the count of 12-11 after the two schools also split their regular season meetings -- each winning on its home court... UC Davis posted a 63-60 nailbiter of a win at home on a Kelsey Harris three-pointer with :14 remaining in the game, before falling to the 49ers, 65-62, at the Pyramid following a 12-3 run to close the game for Long Beach State... The Aggies are 9-5 against the 49ers since joining the Big West, including a 4-3 mark at the Pyramid... The two teams have split their regular season meetings in each of the last four seasons (and five of seven overall), with UC Davis owning season sweeps in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

BIG WEST LID-LIFTERS: Since making the move to Division I in 2007-08, the Aggies have struggled in Big West Conference openers, posting just a 1-6 mark and are currently mired in a five-game losing streak in such games... UC Davis' only victory in a conference opener came back in 2008-09 when the Aggies defeated CSUN, 86-66, at The Pavilion... UC Davis is 0-4 when opening the league slate on the road... records against other Big West schools in conference openers include 0-1 vs. UC Riverside, 1-1 vs. CSUN, 0-3 against Cal State Fullerton, and 0-1 against former league member Pacific... three of the last four Big West openers have been decided by single digits, including last season's 56-52 defeat at the hands of the Matadors at The Pavilion.

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET: Entering this weekend's Big West Conference openers, the Aggies have already run through a 11-game Division I non-conference schedule that has seen its opponents post a combined 93-55 overall record (.628) -- including a 65-30 record (.684) posted by the seven schools that have handed UC Davis a loss. According to the Jan. 5 NCAA statistics, the Aggies have played the toughest schedule among Big West members and ranks as the 46th most difficult slate in the nation.

AROUND THE NATION: As of Jan. 5, the Aggies stand among the top 100 in the nation in four different categories as a team, ranked No. 32 in three-point percentage (.364), No. 27 in three-pointers per game (7.9), No. 40 in field goal percentage (.442), and No. 53 in assists (15.6 apg).

STAY ON TARGET: Whether or not she's using "The Force," Kelsey Harris is draining three-pointers this season like Luke Skywalker bullseyed womp rats in his T-16 back home. The Brea, California, native leads the NATION in three-point percentage (.532), while also standing No. 34 nationally in three-pointers made per game at 2.75.

TAKE FIVE: Senior forward Sydnee Fipps' chase of the school's all-time scoring record continued last weekend in a home win over Menlo College, finishing with a game-high 15 points against the Oaks to climb to within five points of Jessica Campbell (2003-06, 2007-08) for third place on the all-time list and just nine back of Staci Stevens for second. Fipps, who enters this week's Big West openers with 1,408 career points, stands just 304 points away from breaking Carol Rische's record of 1,711 points scored during her brilliant career from 1979-83 -- well within striking distance for Fipps, who has scored better than 500 points in each of her last two campaigns. The Mariposa, California, native needs to average 19.0 ppg over the remaining 16 regular season contests (possibly less once you throw in any possible postseason games), however, to place her atop the list.

FIPPS ON A ROLL... HOLD THE MAYO: Fipps has reached double figures in each of her last nine games (153 points total) -- and 10 of 12 overall this season -- averaging 17.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg during that stretch, while shooting better than 43 percent (54-for-124) from the floor and 37 percent (22-for-59) from beyond the arc.

THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: Should Fipps finish atop the Aggies' leaderboard when it comes to scoring at the end of the season, she would become only the fourth UC Davis women's basketball player to do so in three consecutive seasons, joining Paige Mintun (2008-11), Staci Stevens (1985-88), and all-time leading scorer Carol Rische -- who is the only Aggie (since records are available in 1973-74) to lead the team in scoring all four years of her career from 1979-83. Last season, Fipps became the ninth UC Davis player to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons.

WINDEX WOMAN: Junior forward Celia Marfone narrowly missed out on her first double-double of the season in the Aggies' win over Menlo College, finishing two points shy of the feat to go along with a season-high 10 rebounds (never mind the season-best four assists as well). It was the fifth career double-digit rebounding game for Marfone, who is averaging 8.0 rpg over her last three outings and ranks third on the team at 5.2 rpg this season.

DELICIOUS DISH: Creating opportunities for teammates has been a hallmark of the Aggies thus far this season, assisting on 187 of the team's 288 makes (65 percent) -- including tying a season high with 22 helpers on 30 makes against Menlo College on Jan. 3. UC Davis, which has reached double digits in assists in all but two of its contests this season, ranks second in the Big West in assists entering the week, averaging 15.58 apg to rank behind only UC Riverside (16.50) in the league standings.

ROOM AND BOARDS: The Aggies' 50-34 rebounding advantage against the Oaks last weekend gave them the lead in that category for the second straight game after out-rebounding No. 16 Stanford, 35-30, before the holiday break. It marked only the fifth time in 12 games this season that the Aggies have finished on the right side of the rebounding margin -- and the first time they have accomplished the feat in back-to-back games since they did it in five straight contests from Feb. 27-March 11 last season.

BENCHED: And we don't mean this as a bad thing. The UC Davis bench outscored their counterparts from Menlo College by a 34-22 count in the Aggies win last weekend -- the second-highest point total from the UC Davis reserves this season (45 at Sacramento State on Nov. 18) and the ninth time in 12 games this season that the UC Davis bench has held the scoring advantage. Freshman Rachel Nagel provided a good portion of the punch, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds, while junior Heidi Johnson added a season-high seven rebounds in the win.

UNDER CONTROL: The Aggies turned the ball over a season-low 11 times in their win over Menlo College -- the fewest since they committed the same number in an 26-point win over UC Riverside on March 6 of last season. It marked only the third time this season that UC Davis has had fewer turnovers than its opponent, but improved to 2-1 in those contests with the victory against the Oaks.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: The 16 offensive rebounds against Menlo were also a season high for the Aggies, finishing with their best showing since grabbing the same number at Hofstra on Dec. 7 last season.

SOMEBODY GET A HAND IN HER FACE: Senior Kelsey Harris has been white-hot from beyond the arc through the first 12 games, hitting 33-of-62 from three-point range (.532) and ranking third on the team in scoring at 9.6 ppg. The Brea, California, native entered the week ranked first in the Big West in three-point percentage and second among the league's sharpshooters in three-pointers made per game (2.75). In fact, all but nine of her field goal attempts (87 percent) and all but three of her 36 made baskets (92 percent) have come from long distance this season, continuing a trend that saw her take 82 percent (217 of 264) of her field goal attempts from beyond the arc as a junior.

SHE'S JUST ALY FROM THE BLOCK: With her 14 blocks this season, junior Alyson Doherty is asserting herself in the post just 10 months removed from a serious knee injury that prematurely ended her season in last year's Big West Conference tournament. Doherty, who blocked three shots in three straight games this season against Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, and Utah Valley, registered her 11th career game with three-or-more swats against the Wolverines, falling one shy of her single-game career high set against Long Beach State on Jan. 11, 2014, and matched against UC Irvine on March 8, 2014. She finished with two blocks at #16 Stanford, giving her 76 for her career and solidifying her hold on seventh on the UC Davis career list, just four back of Ellen Porshneva (2003-06, 2007-08) for sixth place.

DOUBLE DIP: Doherty enters the week ranked eighth overall in the Big West in scoring (13.4 ppg) and eighth in the league in rebounding (6.8 rpg), standing as one of only eight players to rank among the conference's top 15 in both categories. The junior from Lake Forest, California, also ranks among the Big West's best in field goal percentage (6th - .500), blocks (7th - 1.27 bpg), and both offensive (9th - 2.27 rpg) and defensive (7th - 4.55 rpg) reboounds.

20 POINTS OF LIGHT: Fipps' fourth, 20-point performance of the season -- a 22-point night at San Jose State on Dec. 10 -- was good enough for her 27th career 20-point game. Already the highest-scoring sophomore (512) and junior (548) in the history of the program, Fipps needs just four more 20-point games this season to catch Staci Stevens (31 from 1984-88) for the most career 20-point games in UC Davis history.

I'LL TAKE "WINNING" FOR 20, ALEX: Usually, when Fipps goes for 20 points or more, it equates to a win for the Aggies, who are a combined 17-10 (.630) in the senior's 27 career 20-point performances -- including 10 wins last season.

SHOOTER!: The top shooting team in the Big West entering the week, UC Davis has been white-hot from the floor in its last 11 contests, hitting on better than 40 percent in each of those games, including a season-best 54 percent at Sacramento State on Nov. 18 and a 50-percent performance against Santa Clara on Dec. 5. The Aggies also enter the week leading league in three-point percentage (.364), hitting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc three times and reaching double digits in three-pointers made five times this season, setting season high's in percentage against Pacific (.563) and makes against Menlo College (12).

THE PASSING POSTS: Inside out. Not good if you're a t-shirt, really good if you're a basketball team. Two of the Aggies' top three in assists thus far this season play in the front court as juniors Celia Marfone (25) and Alyson Doherty (21) rank right behind freshman guard Dani Nafekh (33) for the team lead.

GREUBEL LOST FOR THE SEASON: The Aggies' active roster has been reduced by one, when it was determined that junior guard Molly Greubel has been lost for the rest of the 2014-15 season due a wrist injury. Greubel, who led the Big West Conference in free throw percentage (.871) and ranked 10th in assists (3.35 apg) last season, started the Aggies' first three games this year, averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while racking up eight total assists and a pair of steals in just over 23 minutes per contest.