Postgame Press Conference

LAS VEGAS - The second-seeded UC Irvine women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 1 seed UC Davis for three quarters but ultimately ran out of gas in the fourth when the Aggies pulled away for a 61-42 win in the Big West Tournament championship game Saturday evening at Michelob Ultra Arena.
 
Neither team led by more than four through the first 29 minutes of the game. There were also seven ties and 12 lead changes during that stretch. UCD eventually went up by six in the final minute of the third period, and outscored the 'Eaters, 21-8, in the final frame.
 
"Credit to UC Davis and Jennifer Gross, they had a great game, especially in the fourth quarter," said UCI head coach Tamara Inoue. "We just struggled a little bit scoring then that led to poor decisions on defense, but I'm really proud of my team and their fight, and I'm looking forward to next season."
 
UCI (15-9) was making its fifth appearance in the Big West championship game, and first since 1997. The Anteaters also earned their highest tournament seed in 23 years, and have finished with 13+ wins in four-straight seasons.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Chloe Webb paced UC Irvine with 16 points and nine rebounds, while redshirt freshman Kayla Williams registered 12 points (4-6 3FG), three boards and two steals. Both Webb and Williams were named to the Big West All-Tournament Team. Freshman Victoria Baker also chipped in five points, six rebounds and two steals.
 
The 'Eaters were held to 28.6% shooting, 27.8% from beyond the arc and 45.5% at the free throw line. They forced the Aggies into 16 turnovers, but scored only four points off those miscues.
 
UCD shot 45% from the field with seven made threes. Cierra Hall and Evanne Turner led the way with 23 and 22 points, respectively.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Davis (13-2) struck first, but Williams answered with a 3-pointer and Webb followed with a layup to put UC Irvine on top, 5-2, at the 7:54 mark. It went back-and-forth from there with two ties and five lead changes before the first quarter ended with the Aggies up by a narrow 15-14 margin.
 
UCD pulled ahead by three twice to start the second period, but Williams countered with a triple on both occasions. The 'Eaters eventually reclaimed the advantage with a Baker trey, and a layup from senior Haleigh Talbert making it 26-22 with 1:53 remaining. Both teams stepped up on the defensive end down the stretch as they were scoreless until the final 40 seconds of the half when UC Davis knotted it up at 26-all.
 
After the Aggies went on top by four in the third frame, UCI used a 6-0 spurt over the next few minutes for a 32-30 lead at the 4:29 mark. The Anteaters then hit a wall offensively but were still able to kept it close, trailing 40-34 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
UCD kept the momentum on its side, increasing its cushion to 47-36 just two minutes into the fourth. A Webb free throw and a jumper from Baker closed the gap to eight with 6:36 to play before a 12-0 Aggie rally put the game out of reach.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine had two players named to the Big West All-Tournament Team for the first time since 1997.
• Chloe Webb averaged 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in three postseason games.
• Kayla Williams missed the quarterfinals with an injury, but had double-digit scoring performances in the semis and final.
• The Anteaters, who entered tonight's game ranked first in the league in scoring, were held to a season-low 42 points.
• It is only the second time this year they did not reach the 50-point mark.
• This was UCI's first meeting with UC Davis this year.
• The regular-season series scheduled for Jan. 8-9 in Davis was canceled due to Yolo County health orders.
• The Aggies were shut down for two months before making their return to play on Jan. 22.

Big West All-Tournament Team
Cierra Hall (MVP) - UC Davis
Sage Stobbart - UC Davis
Evanne Turner - UC Davis
Chloe Webb - UC Irvine
Kayla Williams - UC Irvine
Joy Krupa - Cal State Fullerton