HONOLULU, HI -- In a closely contested encounter at the home of the Big West Conference leaders, the UC Davis women's basketball team was edged out by Hawai'i in a gripping overtime finish, 63-57.
The Aggies (15-13, 11-7 Big West) received a commendable performance from Tova Sabel, who led the scoring with 17 points, complemented by nine rebounds and three blocks. Megan Norris contributed her fourth double-double of the season, securing 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Evanne Turner chipped in with eight points and four assists.
Dominating the boards, UC Davis out-rebounded Hawaii 45-39, with Norris leading the charge with 10 rebounds.
Defensively, the Aggies were formidable, holding Hawaii to a mere 36.7% shooting from the field and restricting Jacque David to 3-of-12 shooting, culminating in 10 points. The Rainbow Wahine struggled to capitalize on offensive rebounds, ending the game with seven and failing to score any second-chance points, in contrast to UC Davis' 34 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
UC Davis set the tone early, crafting a series of layups that included consecutive baskets from Sabel, propelling them to an 8-0 lead. Nya Epps executed a stunning reverse lay-in, bringing the score to 10-4 before the first media timeout. The Rainbow Wahine narrowed the deficit to three points by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Hawai'i level the score with a three-pointer, but Norris responded with a three-pointer of her own, marking the Aggies' first of the night and creating a buffer. However, the hosts mounted a 9-0 run in the final minutes of the half and the Aggies struggled to shoot the long ball, going just 1-of-12 from beyond the arc allowing Hawai'i to take a 29-26 at the break.
Regaining their shooting form in the third quarter, Norris landed her second three-pointer, followed by Burns with back-to-back threes, reclaiming the lead for UC Davis. Their defense tightened, leaving the Rainbow Wahine scoreless from the field for over five minutes, and the Aggies held a 43-41 advantage going into the final quarter.
Norris continued her impressive shooting streak, hitting her third three-pointer to extend the lead. Despite a 7-0 run by Hawai'i, Sabel's layup ended the Aggies' dry spell. In the final minute, Hawai'i's Meilani McBee equalized with a three-pointer, tying the game at 54-54 and pushing it to overtime.
Overtime saw Lily Wahinekapu and Daejah Phillips take center stage for Hawai'i, with Phillips' crucial three-pointer sealing the victory at 63-57 for the Rainbow Wahine.
Game Notes
» Megan Norris notched a double-double for the Aggies with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
» UC Davis rallied from a three-point 29-26 halftime deficit to force overtime before ultimately coming up short.
» The Aggies held the Rainbow Wahine to only 36.7 percent shooting from the field.
» UC Davis lost despite a 45-39 rebounding advantage.
» The Aggies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team.
» UC Davis cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Tova Sabel led the Aggies with 17 points.
» UC Davis got a team-high 10 rebounds from Megan Norris.
UP NEXT
The Ags return to the University Credit Union Center on March 7 to host UC San Diego. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay in the loop with everything related to UC Davis women's basketball by following the Aggies on all of their social media platforms.
Instagram | X | Facebook
