UC Davis Falls Short Against UC Irvine in Thriller, 53-55
Location: Irvine, Calif. (Bren Events Center)
Records: UC Davis 18-11 (12-7), UC Irvine 20-9 (14-5)
The Story:
Tova Sabel reached a major milestone with 1,500 career points, but the UC Davis women’s basketball team fell just short in a 53-55 loss to UC Irvine on Thursday, March 6. The Aggies’ defeat leaves them in fourth place in the Big West Conference as they head into their final regular season game.
Key Performances:
- Tova Sabel led with nine points, three rebounds, and two assists in just 23 minutes of play.
- Megan Norris contributed 15 points, including three three-pointers.
- Ryann Bennett came off the bench to score 11 points in 28 minutes, adding two steals.
- The Aggies’ defense forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 18 points.
Game Recap:
The game was a back-and-forth battle with six ties and seven lead changes throughout. The Aggies struggled early, finding themselves down 2-11, but a spark from Bennett, who scored six unanswered points, helped close the gap. Despite a late three-pointer from Norris, the Aggies were trailing 15-16 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second period, Norris hit another three to tie the game, and a midrange jumper from Avery Sussex gave UC Davis its first lead of the night. However, UC Irvine went on a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead. The Aggies responded with a three from Ally Fitzgerald and a layup from Mazatlan Harris, tying the game at 25 going into halftime.
The third quarter was similarly competitive, with both teams exchanging leads. A strong 8-2 run capped by a layup from Sabel gave UC Davis a 39-38 advantage heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Sabel’s first three-pointer of the game put UC Davis ahead by four points. But UC Irvine quickly regained momentum, using a 7-2 run to pull ahead. The Aggies answered with seven straight points, including another three from Norris, giving them their largest lead of the game. However, the Anteaters fought back, tying the game at 53 with just two minutes left.
UC Davis’ defense held strong, but a last-second layup from Nikki Tom sealed the victory for UC Irvine, as the Aggies fell 53-55.
Looking Ahead:
The Aggies will close out the regular season with a road game against UC San Diego on Saturday, March 8. The game is set for 2:00 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and KDVS 90.3.
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