DAVIS, Calif. — After returning to conference play with back-to-back road wins last weekend, UC Davis women's basketball comes home for a pair of Big West games. The Aggies begin the weekend with a matchup with UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6:00 p.m. PT and will wrap up with Cal Poly on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 2:00 p.m. PT.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Jan. 8  — vs. UC Santa Barbara | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats | Parking Information | @ucdaviswbb (X/Instagram)

Jan. 10  — vs. Cal Poly | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats | Parking Information | @ucdaviswbb (X/Instagram)

Full Game Notes

GAME NOTES

• Last Time Out: The Aggies are 10-4 on the year with a 3-0 conference record following a pair of Big West road wins. Against Cal State Bakersfield on January 3, Epps' 28-point day marks a new career high, in addition to the third time this season the senior has scored 20+ points in a game. Epps was effective at the foul line, going 10-for-14 on the day. Megan Norris also went for double-digits with 15 points. Her 13 boards also gave her a double-double, her eighth of the season and second straight contest with a double-double.
• Weekly Honors: On Monday, Nov. 10, the Big West Conference announced its first weekly award for the 2025-26 season, with UC Davis guard Ryann Bennett getting the honor for the first time in her career. This honor comes after two consecutive games where Bennett scored 21 points, setting a career-high and then matching it. She's also started the season effectively in other categories, going for six assists, two blocks, and two steals on Friday against Idaho. On Dec. 1, Megan Norris became the second Aggie to be named the Big West Player of the Week, receiving the award for the second time in her career. In the team's annual rivalry game against Sacramento State on Monday, Norris served as the defensive anchor for her team, blocking three shots and stealing four more while playing a career-high 41 minutes in an overtime victory for the Aggies. In back-to-back games against Jacksonville State and Milwaukee at the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off, Norris delivered strong offensive performances, posting a season-high 19 points against the Gamecocks and 17 against the Panthers. She added 11 and 15 rebounds, respectively, securing her third and fourth double-doubles of the season. Norris's five double-doubles also tie her for third in the nation in that category.
• Best in the Big West: UC Davis ranks near the top of the Big West Conference in many categories, ranking fourth in team offense (70.9 PPG) and third in three point percentage (.338 Pct.), the Aggies are also second in the conference with 9.5 made threes per game. Defensively, the team sits first among conference opponents with 29.6 rebounds per game. Averaging 11 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, Megan Norris sits at the top of both categories among conference opponents. Her 17.2 PPG average puts Ryann Bennett fifth in the conference in scoring. The Aggies also continue to be efficient from beyond the arc, putting two in the top seven in the conference for three-point field goal percentage. Sussex ranks sixth in the conference at 39.5% and Bennett is seventh at 36.7%.
• Rising Through The Ranks: Making her first start of her career in the team's season-opener against Jessup, Avery Sussex has continued to make her impact felt for the Aggies, getting the first starts of her career this season while setting a number of new career-highs. Against Boise State on November 14th, Sussex got her moment in the spotlight with a career-high 23 points and five made threes on seven attempts for an unbelievable 71% from beyond the arc. These performances have elevated Sussex among her peers in the Big West Conference, currently ranking sixth with a .395 shooting percentage from three.
• The Road to 1,000 Points: Now in her fifth season with the blue and gold, Megan Norris has continued to make strides as a leader for UC Davis, leading the Aggies in many statistical categories. In the team's Big West opener against Hawai'i on December 4th, she made history by becoming just the 22nd player to score 1,000 or more points for the program.
• Double-Double Machine: In addition to her scoring prowess, Norris has continued to dominate on the glass, racking up 154 rebounds through the first 14 games of the season, including a career-high 17 rebounds in the season-opener against Jessup. Performances against Jessup, Idaho, Jacksonville State, Milwaukee, Hawai'i, Chico State, CSUN, and CSUB have given Norris a Big West best eight double-doubles so far this season. Among NCAA centers, Norris is also tied for fourth in the country in double-doubles, sitting with the likes of Lauren Whittaker of Gonzaga and Avery Koenen from North Dakota State. Her rebounding prowess also has Norris tied for 14th in the nation with 154 boards.
• First Career Double-Double: Against Chico State on Dec. 14, Avery Sussex set a new career milestone by securing her first collegiate double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. The mark was also significant as Sussex grabbed all 12 boards on the defensive side of the court, showing her strong presence on both aspects of the game.
• Cardiac Ags': Down by as much as 14 in the Aggies' Big West opener against Hawai'i on Dec. 4, the team stormed back to take the win on their home court, going on a 21-2 run in the final five minutes to snatch victory from the hands of defeat. Two days later, in a road matchup with Gonzaga, Davis was tested again when they found themselves down by as much as 30 in Spokane. In the second half, despite a loss, they battled all the way to the end, getting as close as seven in the fourth quarter.
• A Look Back At Non-Conference Play: Ending the non-conference season with a 7-4 record, the Aggies found themselves at the receiving end of many team and individual accolades. In the teams opener against Jessup, Megan Norris set a career-high 17 rebounds while passing 100 blocks in her career. Her 17 boards also set a single game Divison I record for UC Davis. Playing Sac State in overtime for just the fourth time in rivarly history, the Aggies emerged victorious over the Hornets for the eighth time in the last nine contests. Ryann Bennett and Megan Norris each received Big West POTW honors.
• A Star In The Making: Having already been named the Big West Player of the Week earlier this season, Ryann Bennett continues to get better in her sophomore season after an All-Freshman campaign last season. In the annual Causeway Cup rivalry game against Sacramento State on Nov. 24, she willed her team to an overtime win with a new career-high of 25 points while playing over 44 minutes, also a career-high. In the Aggies' Big West road opener against CSUN on New Year's Day, Bennett took another step up by breaking her previous career-high with 26 points. She hit this mark on 12 made field goals, also a career-high.
• Electric Epps: In a road game against Cal State Bakersfield on January 3rd, senior Nya Epps had a breakout day, setting career-highs in both points (28) and made free throws (10) At 13.1 points per game, she's currently second on the team in scoring while also sitting second defensively with 20 steals.
• Preseason Honors: After landing on the All-Big West Second Team and All-Tournament Team a season ago, redshirt senior Megan Norris was named by the conference as one of seven players to be selected to the Big West Preseason Coaches Team. In 33 games for the blue and gold last season, Norris led the Aggies with 251 rebounds, the most in a single season in school history, while also finishing first on the team with 52 blocked shots.
• A Look Back on 2024-25: 2024-25 was a year of milestones for the Aggies, seeing many career and single-season records fall across the board. Against Cal State Fullerton on February 8th, head coach Jennifer Gross made history by becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history, passing her former mentor, Sandy Simpson. A First-Team All-Big West performer, Tova Sabel made her mark in the program record book by becoming just the 21st player to ever score 1,000 career points as an Aggie. Over the summer, she also signed a professional contract with Fila San Martino Di Lupari in Italy. Long-time Aggie Mazatlan Harris also signed a pro contract during the offseason, joining McEvoy's Cavan Eagles in Ireland.
• 2024-25 Recap: UC Davis finished 21-12 last season, slotting in as the third seed in the conference tournament before losing in the championship game to UC San Diego.
• 2025-26 Poll: Aggies were picked third in the Big West preseason coaches' poll, receiving 83 votes and three first-place votes.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

• UC Santa Barbara sits at 11-2 on the season with a 3-1 mark in Big West play. The Gauchos are coming off a home weekend that featured a one-point loss to league leader Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night and an 18-point win over CSUN on Saturday.
• Leading the Gaucho offense is Zoe Borter with 15.6 points per game, which puts her at seventh in the Big West.
• Defensively, Olivia Bradley leads the way with 17 total blocks and 79 rebounds. In the teams final non-conference game against Eastern Washington, her 20 points and 13 rebounds gave her the first double-double of the season.
• UC Davis leads the all-time series 29-23, losing 50-63 when the teams last squared off in Davis last January.
• Cal Poly is 3-11 and 1-3 on the season, getting their first Big West win over Long Beach State last Thursday. The Mustangs play CSUN on Thursday before facing the Aggies.
• Vanessa McManus serves as the biggest offensive threat for Cal Poly, ranking third in the conference with 19 points per game, also scoring 20+ points four separate times.
• Freshman forward Charish Thompson has had an explosive start to her career, ranking tenth in the Big West with 14.2 points per game and coming off a 20-point outing against Long Beach State.
• UC Davis is 43-25 all-time against Cal Poly, winning the last three outings, including a 63-51 home dub on January 16.

SEASON NOTES

• This season marks year 15 for UC Davis head coach Jennifer Gross. Last season, Gross made Aggie history by becoming the winningest coach in program history, passing her mentor, Sandy Simpson, with 252 wins. She currently sits at 268 wins and counting.
• Gross returns all of her coaching staff from last season, including long-time associate head coach Joe Teramoto, now in his 20th year on staff, and 15th-year assistant coach Matt Klemin.
• Also returning is former Tennessee Volunteer Vicki Baugh, who works primarily with the post players, Director of Operations Mia Gallo, and Director of Administration Dejza James.
• Despite the departure of names such as Tova Sabel and Sydney Burns, the Aggies bring back a number of big contributors from last season, including 2025 Second-Team All-Big West player Megan Norris, All-Freshman Ryann Bennett, and All-Defense Nya Epps.
• Other returners from last season include Sahana Kanagasabay, Ally Fitzgerald, Avery Sussex, Theoni Tsami, and Victoria Baker.
• Additionally, the team has also brought in a trio of talented freshmen, Carrington Davis from Rialto, Sophie Lentfer from Anchorage, Alaska, and Emmy Ersdala from Sweden, who was also a member of the Swedish National Team.
• Transfers Tegan Young and Helen Matthews have also been brought in to strengthen an already experienced Aggie squad. Young comes in after two years at Manhattan University, and Matthews is a graduate transfer who joins the team after five seasons at Wofford.
• This is the final season for UC Davis in the Big West before the team transitions to the Mountain West in 2026-27, and the team looks to end its long tenure in the conference on a high note with a championship and another appearance in March Madness.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.