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.