Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
Davis, Calif. - Playing the first of three road games to close out the 2008-09 regular season, the Pacific women's basketball team suffered a 58-39 loss to UC Davis on Saturday, February 28 at the Pavilion in Davis, Calif. The loss dropped the Tigers to 14-13 overall and 8-7 in conference play while the Aggies improved to 10-17 overall and 6-9 in Big West play.
In the first half of the contest the Tigers fell behind early to the Aggies, falling behind 9-0 over the first five minutes of the game, digging an early hole on the road that they would spend the rest of the first half trying to dig themselves out of. After giving up nine unanswered baskets, the Tigers went on an 11-5 run over the next six minutes of play to claw their way back into the game behind the play of senior Janae Young (Sacramento, Calif.).
After junior Jasmine Dana (Bakersfield, Calif.) got the Tigers on the board for the first time in the game with a layup at the 14:22 mark in the first half, Young scored the Tigers' next six points of the game on easy layups at the basket to push Pacific back into the contest. Pacific's run would be capped by sophomore Gretchen Tiernan's (Roseville, Calif.) first three of the game as Pacific climbed to within three at 14-11 with 8:40 to play in the half.
However, just as quickly as the Tigers had clawed their way back into the game, the Tigers saw their efforts wasted as another five minute scoring drought enabled the Aggies to push their lead back to nine at 20-11 after the fourth and final media timeout of the half. Over the final four minutes of the half, the Aggies outscored the Tigers 10-7 to finish the half leading by 12, 30-18. In the first half, the Tigers' shot just 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from the floor.
After being held to their season low in points for a half in the first half of play, the Tigers woes continued into the second half of play as Pacific came out of the break scoring just eight points over the first 10:30 of the second half. With the Tigers unable to score against the Aggies' defense, UC Davis stretched their 12 point half time lead to 17, mid-way through the final half of play, outscoring the Tigers 13-8 to start the half.
With the Tigers continued struggles, the Aggies pushed their lead to over 20 points with just over three minutes to play in the game, posting their largest lead of the contest of 23 points with 2:10 to play in the game. The final margin would finish end on 19 points for the Aggies.
Young finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds before fouling out of the contest with just over three minutes to play in the game. Young finished as the lone Tiger to score in double figures with the next highest total for Pacific coming from junior Emma Head (San Diego, Calif.) scoring seven. Pacific's leading scorer and the conference's second leading scorer, senior Amber Simmon (Chico, Calif.) finished the contest without scoring, marking the first time in her career the senior forward finished a game with no points.
Kasey Riecks led all scorers in the contest with 16 points for the Aggies. She added five rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes of play. Paige Mintun added 12 points and seven rebounds to the Aggie victory.
The 39 points was the lowest total for the Tigers this season after posting a previous low of 48 earlier this year in a win against UC Irvine. The Tigers entered the game as the conference's second highest scoring offense at just under 66 points per game.
Despite the loss the Tigers remain locked into the fourth spot in the conference and a first round bye in the upcoming conference tournament. Locked into the fifth position, Pacific and UC Davis will likely meet in the second round of the tournament. The two teams split the season series with each team winning on their home floor.
Pacific is now 2-11 away from the Spanos Center this season.
The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday, March 5 when they travel to Bakersfield, Calif. to take on the Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield in non-conference action. The contest is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
