DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis caps off a perfect 2-0 week with a win over the Big West leaders, UC Irvine, rallying from a double-digit deficit to grab the 60-57 victory on Saturday afternoon inside the University Credit Union Center.
The Aggies (6-8, 2-2 Big West) turned in one of their most efficient offensive performances of season, shooting 48.9% from the field and over 50% in the second half to storm back from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter.
UC Davis got a massive performance from Tova Sabel who poured in a team-high 16 points, with 15 coming in the second half. The senior hit three of her five attempts from beyond the arc, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists while leading the Aggies in scoring for the second straight game.
Evanne Turner dropped 13 points with three triples on the night, scoring all of her points in the first half. Mazatlan Harris hit a pair of threes to finish with eight points in the contest while Megan Norris chipped in with seven points and a game-high eight boards.
How It Happened
Turner paced the Aggies' offense in the early minutes by scoring the first eight points of the game, pouring in a pair of free throws before knocking down back-to-back step back three-pointers. The Fontana native hit another tough jump shot to reach double digits as she scored 10 of the team's 12 first-quarter points to give her team a two-point advantage (12-10) after one.
After a Harris layup, UC Irvine rallied for a 6-0 run to make it a one possession game. Harris buried a three-ball from the wing, but the Anteaters would continue their strong second quarter by exploding for a 15-3 run to burst into the lead.
Turner sunk her third triple of the game, but five Aggie turnovers in the period as well as 14 total turnovers in the half gave the visitors the opportunity build a 35-27 lead at the halftime break.
Harris netted her second three of the game before Sabel dropped a driving layup to keep things close in the third frame. The Swedish guard started to catch fire and led the Aggie comeback with eight straight points following her back-to-back three-pointers, tying things up at 44-44, capping off an 8-0 run in less than two minutes for Davis' team. Sabel finished with 10 points in the quarter and UC Davis would trail by just three (49-46) heading into the last 10 minutes.
UC Irvine kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 53-48 advantage before UC Davis went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Sabel's clutch three-pointer, to seize a 55-53 lead with 4:19 to go in the contest. The Aggie defense continued to get some important stops down the stretch while keeping the momentum alive on the offensive side of the ball when Norris finished a tough layup inside to maintain the two-point cushion with three minutes remaining. The Anteaters tied it up at 57-57 at the two-minute mark, but Sabel's impressive driving layup on the next possession proved to be the game-winning basket for Davis' team. The Aggies' defense stiffened when it mattered most when UC Irvine trailed by two points with 25 seconds left to play. It was Bria Shine who came up with the big play, snatching the steal on the final possession to clinch the victory on home court.
UC Davis' defense held UC Irvine to just 4-of-11 in the last period, coming away with the 60-57 win to complete the perfect week of conference play.
Game Notes
» The Aggies rallied from a three-point 49-46 third quarter deficit to pick up the win.
» UC Davis rallied from an eight-point 35-27 halftime deficit to pick up the win.
» UC Davis found success from three point land, knocking down eight treys in the game.
» UC Davis had a 32-20 edge on the boards in the win.
» The UC Davis defense forced 17 turnovers.
» Tova Sabel led the Aggies with 16 points.
» UC Davis got a game-high eight rebounds from Megan Norris.
UP NEXT
The Ags head back on the road to face CSUN on Jan. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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