DAVIS, Calif. -- Junior Lena Svanholm finished with a game-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead a group of four UC Davis players in double figures, as the Aggies won their 2021-22 season opener by the score of 69-51 over the Academy of Art on Tuesday night at the University Credit Union Center.

The Aggies won their seventh straight at home -- and their 15th in the last 16 contests on their home floor -- in improving to 1-0 on the season. Tuesday's contest was an exhibition for the Urban Knights.

Sophomore Evanne Turner added 14 points and three steals, freshman Sydney Burns finished with 12 points and five assists in her Division I debut, and senior Cierra Hall scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds while dishing out four assists, in the victory. With her two blocks, senior Sage Stobbart became the sixth player in school history to reach 100 for a career, adding eight points and six rebounds Tuesday night.

UC Davis shot 44 percent from the field, including hitting 13-of-16 from the line, and dished out 18 assists on 25 made from the floor. The Aggies also dominated the paint, outscoring the Urban Knights, 34-18, inside. Meanwhile, the defense limited Academy of Art to just 29 percent shooting for the game, including a 24 percent clip in the fourth quarter.

A brief two-game homestand continues with a Saturday matinee (Nov. 13) at Noon as UC Davis hosts Saint Mary's at the University Credit Union Center.

How It Happened

UC Davis started out the scoring by going on a 6-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Sage Stobbart, to take an early lead with 7:07 left in the first quarter. The Aggies then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 15-14 advantage. UC Davis did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 15 points close to the basket.

UC Davis built that first quarter lead to 23-21 before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 4:25 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 33-21. The Urban Knights cut into that lead, but the Aggies still enjoyed a 35-26 advantage heading into halftime. UC Davis saw non-starters score five of its 20 total points off the bench in the quarter.

UC Davis wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Burns, to expand its lead further to 41-26 with 8:10 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Urban Knights had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Aggies still entered the fourth quarter with a 50-41 edge. UC Davis played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 15 points in the paint.

UC Davis started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on an 11-0 run, finished off by Hall's jumper, to grow the lead to 61-41 with 5:54 to go in the contest. The Urban Knights narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Aggies still cruised the rest of the way for the 69-51 win. UC Davis got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 10 of its 19 total points.

Game Notes

» The Aggies held the Urban Knights to only 29.4 percent shooting from the field.
» The Aggies never trailed after taking a 15-14 first quarter lead.
» The Aggies shared the ball well, recording an assist on 72 percent of made baskets.
» UC Davis had a stellar day defensively, holding Academy of Art to 19 percent from beyond the arc on 27 attempts.
» The UC Davis bench made an impact by scoring 21 points to its scoring output.
» UC Davis had a 44-38 edge on the boards in the win.
» The UC Davis defense forced 14 turnovers.
» The Aggies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» Lena Svanholm led the Aggies with a game-high 16 points.
» UC Davis got a team-high eight rebounds from Cierra Hall.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.