UC Davis men’s and women’s basketball open season at home with a double-header on Nov. 2

Women’s team wins fourth straight home opener, while men’s team falls in Mountain West debut

By ALEXIA NAVARRO GARCIA— sports@theaggie.org

On Nov. 2, UC Davis (UCD) women’s and men’s basketball opened their seasons at the University Credit Union Center in the first double-header of the season. 

The women's team took the court first, defeating the visiting Jessup University (JU) Warriors 82-42 in a nonconference contest.

The Aggies tipped off the game by scoring first. Guard AngeIiki Ziaka, a third-year human development major, gave the Aggies an early lead with a jumper shot from inside the paint, directly underneath the basket. Guard Claudia Jimenez followed with a layup to tie the score at 2-2 and give the Warriors their first points of the evening. 

Later in the first quarter, guard Sophia Lentfer, a second-year human development major, was the first player to step up to the free throw line for the Aggies after being fouled by JU forward Porter Wood. Lentfer made both free throws to tie the game at 4-4. 

Guard Rebecca Donnelly, a first-year undeclared major, closed the first quarter with a three-pointer, allowing UCD to enter the second quarter leading 18-11. 

Forward Marta Forsline, a third-year communication major, opened the second quarter by adding two more points with a layup and increasing the Aggies’ lead to 20-11. JU went on a six-point scoring run before Lentfer made a three-pointer to set the score 23-17, with the Warriors still trailing behind UC Davis.

A free throw by center Holly Ensoll, a first-year civil engineering major, helped the Aggies finish the first half with a 28-19 lead after another low scoring quarter. 

After halftime, the Aggies emerged in the third quarter, adding 27 points to the scoreboard. Forward Tegan Young, a third-year human development major, and Donnelly added six points each to the scoreboard, while Forsline put up five points. The Warriors, despite the Aggies attempt to block them, added nine points.The Aggies ended the third quarter up 55-26.

Sitting on a comfortable 29 point lead, UCD continued to dominate in the fourth and final quarter. Ensoll, Young, Forsline and Donnelly contributed to another 27 point quarter. The Aggies took down the Warriors 82-42 to win their first game of the season. 

Young led the UCD offense with a total of 17 points, making five of nine field goals and six of six free throws. Wood led the JU team with 11 points, making five of 13 field goals. 

With the win over the Warriors, the Aggies are now 5-0 against JU and have won four straight season openers.

The UCD men’s team followed, suffering a 79-75 loss to the University of North Alabama (UNA) Lions in the Aggies Mountain West Conference debut.

The Aggies led in the first half with a total of 45 points. UCD went 12-for-29 on field goals, six-for-12 on three-pointers and 15-for-20 on free throws in the first half for the lead. 

The Lions posted 36 points in the first half, trailing the Aggies by 9 points into halftime. UNA went 14-for-28 on field goals, six-for-14 on three-pointers and two-for-two on free throws in their first half performance. 

After the half, UNA rallied and came back from the scoring deficit to defeat UCD 79-75. The Lions put up 43 points on the scoreboard in the second half, going 10-for-23 in field goals, four-for-13 on three pointers and 19-for-26 on free throws. In total, UNA had 15 points off turnovers, six fast break points, 24 points in the paint and 32 bench points, coming from players who did not start. Guard Quan Lax led the Lions with a total of 19 points, making six of nine field goals, one of three three-pointers and six of eight free throws. 

Meanwhile, the Aggies scored 30 points in the second half, going 11-for-30 in field goals, two-for-13 on three-points and six-for-11 on free throws. In total, UCD had 21 points off turnovers, 12 fast break points, 26 points in the paint and 19 bench points. Guard Jalen Stokes, a second-year undeclared social science major, led the Aggie with a total of 16 points, going five-for-12 on field goals and five-for-eight in free throws.

The UCD women’s basketball team will return home after a two game road trip to take on the California State University, Fullerton Titans on Nov. 12 at the University Credit Union Center in an 11 a.m. nonconference contest. The Aggies men’s team will play its first road game against the Sacramento State University’s Hornets in the team’s annual Causeway Classic on Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. in Hornet Pavilion. 

Written by: Alexia Navarro Garcia — sports@theaggie.org