UC Irvine Tops UC Davis 9-6 In Big West Quarterfinals

Friday, April 26

Davis, CA

2:30 p.m.

UC Irvine

17-10

UC Davis

10-17

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Davis	2	1	2	1	6
UC Irvine	2	3	2	2	9

UC Irvine Tops UC Davis 9-6 In Big West Quarterfinals

April 26, 2024 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Jordan Kehoe

Postgame Interview

DAVIS, Calif. – No. 2 seeded UC Irvine topped No. 7 seed UC Davis, 9-6, in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Big West Championship on Friday afternoon.

A three goal second period helped to push the Anteaters in front and maintain the advantage the remainder of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Gracie Helberg and Lauren Hett paced the Anteaters with two goals each
Helberg went a perfect 2-2 at the cage and added an assist
Kili Skibby, Airian Grisham, Kennedy East, Madi O'Hara, and Sara Naulty rounded out the scoring
Skibby topped UCI in points (5) as she assisted on a game best four goals while adding one of her own
Faith Tedesco saved eight shots in 32 minutes between the pipes
Hett stole the ball a game high four times
Skibby, Jensine Bugelli, and Maja Layden each chipped in two steals
No. 7 seed UC Davis was led by Liberty Massman who recorded two goals on two shots with two drawn exclusions

SCORING BREAKDOWN

First period: No. 7 seed UC Davis opened the scoring with a skip shot at 5:52. The ball found the way into Gracie Helberg's (4:37) hands up top to even the game back up. The Aggies found the gap (2:33) before Gabby Norris fed the ball to Lauren Hett as she barred her shot down into the cage with 32 seconds on the clock, 2-2.
- Helberg (1) and Hett (1)
Second period: No. 2 seed UC Irvine came out of the first period effort fired up as they scored three unanswered on three consecutive offensive possessions. Hett converted her five-meter attempt at 3:22, the final goal of the period for the Anteaters. UCI played tremendous defense until the Aggies found the gap in the upper right corner (1:37) to bring the game back within two, 5-3.
- East (1), Hett (1), and O'Hara (1)
Third period: Play went back and forth in the third as each side saw two scores. Airian Grisham (6:58) pushed the 'Eater advantage back out to three as she knocked in a pass into the cage. After drawing an exclusion, UC Davis called a timeout to come up with a set play to score (1:44). Brooke Hourigan collected the rebound off the post, passed it around the formation, and Sara Naulty placed the ball into he far side of the cage at 1:44. Then, the Aggies responded at 1:19 on the entry pass, 7-5.
- Grisham (1) and Naulty (1)
Fourth period: UCI benefited from a drawn exclusion in the center which allowed Helberg (6:13) to place the ball into the bottom right corner on a five-meter penalty shot. UCD was able to draw the Anteater defenders outside of the center to score at 4:21. In transition, Kili Skibby (1:52) deposited her long shot into the cage to seal the Anteater victory, 9-6.
- Helberg (1) and Skibby (1)

UP NEXT
The Anteaters advance to the semifinal round of the 2024 Big West Championship and will face No. 3 seed Long Beach State at 2 p.m. on Saturday Apr. 27.