Score: UC Davis 59, Montana St. 77
Location: Bozeman, Mont. (Brick Breeden Fieldhouse)
Records: UC Davis 1-3, Montana St. 4-0
The short story: Junior guard Nya Epps scored in double figures for the second time this season to magnify 27 bench points but UC Davis women's basketball was unable to overcome a slow start, losing at Montana State on Sunday afternoon.
OPENING TIP
- Epps scored her 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting and added two steals, two rebounds and two assists
- Off the bench freshman guard Ryann Bennett scored 8 points and redshirt junior guard Victoria Baker and junior forward Ally Fitzgerald each added seven points
- Redshirt junior forward Megan Norris snagged a team-high eight rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis was the first to score early in the first quarter, thanks to a layup by Epps and after a defensive rebound, Norris was able to follow with a layup of her own to give the Ags a quick lead
- That lead was unfortunately cut into as the Bobcats would go on to outscore UC Davis 17-9 for the remainder of the period to take the lead after 10 minutes
- Senior guard Tova Sabel hit a three out of the quarter break to cut into the Bobcat lead, and back-to-back buckets from Epps got the Aggies within three points just two minutes into the quarter
- The Aggies remained within three points as the clock rolled past seven minutes, but back-to-back three-point buckets by Montana State put momentum back in their control
- Those three-point baskets helped the Bobcats build out a double digit lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game
- Baker ended the half with a basket, and it got the Aggies within 42-31 heading into the break
- In the third quarter, Montana State outscored the Aggies 20-11 to build its lead out to a spot the Aggies could not come back from
- During the fourth quarter, UC Davis showed grit, winning those 10 minutes 17-15. Fitzgerald and Bennett both scored five points each in the quarter, going a combined 4-for-5 from the field
UP NEXT: The Aggies return home to Davis on Nov. 20 to host Sacramento State at 6 p.m.
