UC Davis explodes in fourth quarter to shock UC San Diego in Big West women's basketball
Aggies tie for third in final conference standings to earn first-round bye in conference tournament
SAN DIEGO - Responding when it counted most, UC Davis staged a dramatic fourth quarter rally to overtake UC San Diego, 69-58, in the Big West women's basketball regular-season finale here Saturday afternoon.
The win moves the Aggies into a tie for third with UC San Diego, both at 13-7, in the final conference standings.
UCD will enter next week's Big West Conference tournament as the No. 3 seed by virtue of winning the tie-breaker formula with San Diego.
The win wraps up a first-round bye for the Aggies, who will open tournament play Thursday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m. at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.
The tournament champion earns the Big West's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Well into the fourth quarter, things didn't look promising for UCD.
San Diego raced away to an early 18-5 lead and looked to make quick work of the Aggies, much to the delight of the gathering of 472 at Lion Tree Arena.
The Tritons led 31-22 at half and still enjoyed a 49-40 lead early in the fourth quarter before the Aggies went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 50-49.
Nya Epps had two buckets in the streak, and Tova Sabel hit six straight free throws in the final quarter as the Aggies dominated down the stretch.
Ryann Bennett's 3-pointer was a dagger with 36 seconds left, then Epps and Mazatlan Harris had two free throws apiece to remove all doubt.
The Aggies converted 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter while shooting 66.7 percent from the field over the final 10 minutes.
Bennett led UCD with 19 points, while Sabel added 18.
Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com
👍 Cliched the third seed in tne Big W tournament. Ryann Bennett at her best.