Score: UC Davis 46, Hawai'i 56
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center)
Records: UC Davis 12-7 (6-3), Hawai'i 12-6 (6-2)
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The short story:
Tova Sabel once again led her squad with 11 points and six rebounds, but the UC Davis women's basketball team fell to the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine 56-46 on Thursday, Jan. 23.
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OPENING TIPÂ
- Tova Sabel hit 11 points for the second straight game, also collecting six rebounds and one steal.
- Ryann Bennett also hit double-digits in her second straight game, scoring 10 points and swiping three steals.
- The Aggie defense kept their opponent on their heels all night long, forcing 20 turnovers from the Rainbow Wahine.
- In addition to Bennett, Victoria Baker and Ally Fitzgerald produced off the bench, each playing 12+ minutes. Baker went 4-for-6 from the field and scored eight points.
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HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
- Defense was the name of the game to start, with each team having only one layup in the game's first six minutes.
- The second unit came onto the floor for the Aggies, with Fitzgerald and Bennett each getting buckets to keep their team within one possession with the score reading 11-8 in favor of the Rainbow Wahine at the end of the first.
- After a quick two in the paint to start the second from Bennett, Davis struggled to get their offense going, seeing Hawaii build a 14-point lead late into the quarter.
- With three minutes left in the half, a jumper from Sabel sparked her team, as they would go on an 11-2 run to pull within striking distance at the end of the half, down 21-26.
- A layup in the opening seconds of the third from Sydney Burns put the Aggies within one possession.
- But Hawaii continued to attack, trading baskets with their opponent before five quick points put them in control once again at the end of the quarter, up 42-34.
- In the fourth, baskets from Megan Norris and Nya Epps found Davis back within three halfway through the period.
- Despite a three from the Rainbow Wahine, the Aggies refused to give up, with layups from Bennett and Baker giving them just a two-point deficit.
- However, this would be the last time the team would score, as Hawaii would end things with an 8-0 run, ultimately winning the game 56-46.
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UP NEXT: Davis will be at home for their next four starting with a matchup against the UC Riverside Highlanders to wrap up the month of January on Thursday, Jan. 30. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT and fans can tune in live on ESPN+.
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