UC Davis Edges CSUN in a Defensive Struggle

DAVIS, Calif.—In a defensive struggle, UC Davis defeated CSUN 48-41 Saturday afternoon in Big West Women's Basketball action at the University Credit Union Center.

FIRST HALF
Action remained even through the first 7+ minutes of the first quarter. When the game reached the media timeout, the score was tied at seven. The Matadors kept the Aggies off the scoreboard for the final 3:43 of the first period and would lead 9-7 after a pair of free throws at the end of the period.

UC Davis missed 10 of its first 12 field goal attempts. Trailing 11-7, the Aggies made three consecutive baskets with Sage Stobbart capping off the 7-0 spurt with a three-pointer, resulting in a CSUN timeout at the 6:20 mark of the second. Jordyn Jackson broke a four-minute drought with a layup that resulted in six straight points for the Matadors and the lead.

UC Davis came back with six in a row to regain a 20-17 advantage. Kayanna Spriggs' free throws cut it to one with just over two to play. Cierra Hall connected on a three-pointer on the ensuing Aggies' possession to push the advantage to 23-19. Jackson's free throws with 33 seconds remaining were the final points of the half as UC Davis led 23-21 at the break.

SECOND HALF
CSUN missed its first nine shots of the third period before Olivia Smith's layup occurred with just under five to play. Despite the poor shooting, UC Davis couldn't capitalize as the Aggies posted five points over the first five minutes. Heading into the third quarter media timeout, UC Davis led 28-25.

Hall's free throws coming out of the media timeout broke a nearly four-minute scoreless stretch for the Aggies. Led by Hall who was 7-of-9, the Aggies scored their final 10 points of the third from the free throw line and despite not scoring a field goal over the final eight minutes of the frame, UCD led 36-30 after three quarters of play.

Tess Amundsen scored the first four points of the fourth for the Matadors. Evanne Turner's jumper at 6:36 increased the lead for the Aggies to 38-34. Turner recorded five straight points coming out of the fourth quarter media timeout (4:46) that put the Aggies up by nine.

The Matadors went scoreless for over five minutes before a Jackson jumper with 2:22 remaining. Kayanna Spriggs blocked a Hall jumper, give CSUN the ball. The Matadors couldn't take advantage, turning the ball over on a shot clock violation. Kayla Konrad was fouled with 1:00 to play. She made both to extend the lead to nine. Spriggs was fouled on the ensuing Matador possession. Spriggs missed both, Lena Svanholm grabbed the rebound and called timeout, allowing UC Davis to advance the ball. Svanholm was fouled, but she could only make 1-of-2.

Spriggs was fouled on an offensive rebound. She was 1-of-2. The Matadors got the offensive rebound. This resulted in Woodley putback with 10 seconds left. UC Davis called timeout to advance the ball. Turner was fouled and she made both attempts. Jackson's layup at the buzzer made it the final 48-41.

ACCORDING TO INTERIM HEAD COACH CARLENE MITCHELL
"I am extremely proud of our kids. I would give them an A-minus on the road against a very efficient system-oriented UC Davis team. Everyone bought into the game plan. We did a great job of close outs and our on-ball defense. Our biggest mistake was having our guards getting posted up against bigger guard. I thought we got out of the flow of the game in the second quarter when they kept going to the free throw line. We must be more disciplined and not foul when they are driving to the basket. Our struggles continued on the offensive end of the floor. When we weren't getting points in transition, we are having to grind it out on in the half court and we have been struggling against the bigger teams down low. "

THE NUMBERS
CSUN held UC Davis to 27.1% shooting (13-of-48), but the Matadors went 25.9% from the field (14-of-54). The Aggies outrebounded CSUN 43-36. The Matadors forced 16 turnovers and made five steals. UCD charted three steals and forced CSUN to make 11 turnovers.

Hall and Turner combined for 38 of the 48 UC Davis points. Hall had 13 in the first half on the way to a game-high 21. She recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds. Turner scored 17, 12 in the second half. Amundsen was CSUN's top scorer with nine. Jackson posted eight points, six rebounds, and two assists. Spriggs scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds.

UP NEXT
CSUN (6-9, 2-3 Big West) completes a three-game road trip Tuesday at UC Santa Barbara (8-5, 2-2 Big West). Coverage on ESPN+ begins at 7 p.m.

NOTES
The seven points which UC Davis scored in the first period were the lowest by a CSUN Division I opponent in a quarter this season…UC Davis is 8-6, 2-2 Big West…Saturday marked the 56th time that CSUN and UC Davis have played with the Aggies leading the all-time series 29-17.

~#UniteTheValley~

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Team Stats

Tess Amundsen

Jordyn Jackson

Meghann Henderson

Kayanna Spriggs

Players Mentioned

Tess Amundsen

Jordyn Jackson

Olivia Smith

Kayanna Spriggs