DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Davis women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Cal Poly and secure an 87-61 victory in a Big West Conference game Saturday at The Pavilion at ARC.

The Aggies, improving to 11-5 overall, outscored the Mustangs 30-24 in the pivotal third period, transforming a 39-22 halftime lead into an insurmountable advantage. The run was fueled by defensive pressure and efficient offense, hallmarks of a performance that saw UC Davis force 21 turnovers and convert them into 28 points.

Cal Poly, which fell to 3-13, struggled with consistency throughout. After managing just 22 points in the first half, the Mustangs found some offensive rhythm after halftime but could never string together enough stops to threaten the Aggies’ control. Charish Thompson led Cal Poly with 18 points, while Jordan Billing added nine off the bench.

The game’s decisive stretch began early in the third quarter. Leading 41-26, UC Davis unleashed a 12-2 run over a three-minute span. Sophie Lentfer hit a three-pointer, Avery Sussex converted a layup and a free throw, and Nya Epps capped the burst with a steal and a transition basket, pushing the lead to 53-28 and effectively sealing the outcome.

UC Davis showcased balanced scoring and superior execution. Nya Epps led all scorers with 17 points, adding three steals. Megan Norris was a force inside, recording 15 points, four assists and two blocks in just 19 minutes of action. Ryann Bennett contributed 14 points, while Victoria Baker provided a spark with 12 points, three assists and three steals off the bench. The Aggies also excelled at the free-throw line, making 28 of 31 attempts.

In contrast, Cal Poly shot only 13 for 28 from the charity stripe and was outrebounded 41-30, including a 14-6 deficit on the offensive glass. Gabby Robinson finished with 10 points and three assists for the Mustangs.

The Aggies set the tone from the opening tip, with Norris winning the jump ball and scoring the game’s first basket just 16 seconds in. UC Davis built an 18-11 lead after the first quarter and extended it by holding Cal Poly to another 11-point quarter in the second, taking a 17-point lead into the break.

The victory keeps UC Davis in the upper tier of the Big West standings, while Cal Poly continues to search for its first conference win. The teams are scheduled to meet again in San Luis Obispo on Feb. 7.

UC Davis next travels to face Cal State Fullerton on Thursday. Cal Poly continues its road trip at Hawaii on the same night.