UC Davis dominated in the paint and had all five starters score in double figures in a 78-61 win over UCSB in a Big West women’s basketball game on Saturday at the Thunderdome.
The visiting Aggies swept the two-game series and improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. UCSB suffered its seventh loss at home and fell to 2-9 and 2-5.
The Gauchos struggled to contain the taller Aggies getting outscored 36-20 in the paint. UC Davis shot 54 percent, making 30 of 56 from the floor, including 9-20 on three pointers.
Cierra Hall led the Aggies with 20 points, Sage Stobbart had 13 points, Mackenzie Trpcic 11 points and nine assists and Kayla Konrad and Evanne Konrad added 10 points apiece.
Freshman Anya Choice scored 18 to lead the Gauchos, Taylor Mole had 14 points and Doris Jones added 12. UCSB shot 36.5% from the field (23-63) and made eight three pointers on 25 attempts.
After trailing by eight at halftime (37-29), UCSB fell behind 54-41 in the third quarter. Choice cut the deficit to seven (54-47) with a jumper, a free throw and a three-pointer.
Konrad scored on a layup off a Trpcic assist to put the Aggies up 56-47 going into the fourth quarter.
A pair of three-pointers by Mole pulled the Gauchos to within five (58-53) before UC Davis went on a 9-0 run to go up by 14 (67-53) with 6:06 to go.
The Aggies continued to dominate in the post and coasted the rest of the way.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.