Semifinals - No. 3 seed UC Davis 63, No. 2 seed UC Irvine 56

Box Score | UCD presser | UCI presser | Game Highlights
In a rematch of the Championship final from a year ago, No. 3 seed UC Davis secured a 63-56 victory over second-seeded UC Irvine in the semifinals of the 2025 Big West Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Credit Union 1 at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. 

The Aggies move to 21-11 on the season and move on to face No. 4 seed UC San Diego in the battle for the crown on Saturday at 3 p.m. This marks UC Davis' ninth finals appearance as the team will be vying for their fourth Championship title (2011, '19, '22).


All-Big West first team selection Tova Sabel emerged as a standout player for UC Davis, leading the team with 21 points and four rebounds. Redshirt junior Megan Norris commanded the boards, securing a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with 12 points for the double-double.  Additionally, Mazatlan Harris recorded nine rebounds and added 11 points to the scoring effort. 

UC Davis had a strong first quarter, with two triples from the hand of Norris. Harris swished a three at the 7:06 mark followed by a layup by the senior Sabel to grow the advantage to 15-2. By the quarter break, UCD held the 19-9 advantage. 

UC Davis extended the lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Anteaters 16-7 in the frame to make the score 35-16 in favor of the Aggies at the midpoint. UC Davis was hot from the perimeter with a 4-of-7 effort from distance. Defensively, UC Davis forced seven turnovers.  The Aggies displayed strong perimeter shooting, making four of seven 3-pointers while converting five of 13 field goals overall. They also capitalized on defense, recording three steals and forcing UC Irvine into seven turnovers to grow the lead.

The second half started with UC Irvine on the offensive as the Anteaters scored the first 11 points in the frame to reduce the deficits to single digits. The Big West Player of the Year from a season ago, Deja Lee, opened up the third period with a triple, followed by five straight for junior Hunter Hernandez, bookended by another three for Lee. By the end of the quarter, UC Irvine had whittled into the UC Davis lead to make it 47-42 heading into the final 10 minutes. 

The game stayed tight through the next five minutes, with the gap closed to one point with 4:34 to play after a layup for junior Ines Gnahore, assisted by Lee. A three-pointer for Sabel made it 56-52 in favor of the Aggies to turn it back to a two-possession game. The Anteaters were again able to narrow the margin with a successful and-one for Hernandez with 1:04 to play, but the Aggies were able to hold the lead to claim the victory.

UCI's Hernandez led the scoring in the loss with 15 points and four rebounds with Lee adding 13. The Anteaters finish the campaign with a 21-10 mark on the year. 

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