Box Score

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Alyson Doherty scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half as UC Davis cut an 11-point halftime deficit to just two, but second-seeded CSUN was able to hold off the fifth-seeded Aggies' challenge for a 61-47 win at the Big West Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals at Honda Center on Friday afternoon.

"I'm very proud of my team," Head Coach Jennifer Gross said. "You put so much into something and that's all you can do. Our players are hurting, and are sad, but I hope they understand how proud we are."

Junior Celia Marfone posted her first double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds for UC Davis, which won its first two games in the tournament for the second time since joining the Big West, ending the campaign with a 15-16 overall record for the second straight year. Marfone was an efficient 6-of-7 from the field and reached double digits in rebounds for the eighth time this season.

Doherty added 4-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the line, adding seven rebounds.

Ashlee Guay finished with a game-high 21 points, added seven rebounds, and dished six assists for the Matadors, who improved to 22-9 and advance to Saturday afternoon's championship against top-seed Hawai'i.

UC Davis battled back after 14 first-half turnovers and CSUN's 9-3 offensive rebound advantage helped it forge a 25-14 lead. The Aggies trailed just 7-6 five minutes into the game but went 11 minutes without a field goal and just two points overall before Marfone's bucket made it 16-10 with 3:28 left in the half.

CSUN had nine turnovers before halftime as UC Davis' defense kept the Aggies within striking distance. However, a three-pointer from Guay with 1:31 to go and a jumper from Camille Mahlknecht 20 seconds later gave the Matadors their big intermission lead.

UC Davis surged in the second half, going on a 6-0 run behind scoring from Doherty, Kelsey Harris, and Marfone, to make it 30-27 five minutes in. Freshman Pele Gianotti and Doherty scored over the next four minutes as the Aggies got within 33-31 with 10:56 to play but treys from Randi Friess, Guay, and Cinnamon Lister, keyed a 9-4 Matador run that reasserted their lead to 42-35.

UC Davis could not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

"I'm really proud," said senior guard Brianna Salvatore, who finished with six assists, three rebounds, and a pair of steals. "Our team showed a lot of 'Aggie Pride' this week. We had so much confidence... we were having so much fun. Today didn't go the way that we wanted, but we competed. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm excited for the future of this team."

After shooting 33% in the first half, the Aggies rebounded to shoot 48% in the second and had just five turnovers after the break. They were also held to just 1 for 7 from beyond the arc.

Lister added 13 points for CSUN while Janae Sharpe scored 10. Mahlknecht had a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Aggies, who played their fourth straight game without senior three-time All-Big West first-team pick Sydnee Fipps who missed with injury, opened the conference tournament with wins over UC Irvine and fourth-seeded Long Beach State, and were looking to win their first Big West Tournament title since 2011.