FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the UC Davis women’s basketball team fended off a persistent challenge from Cal State Fullerton to secure a 73-67 victory in a Big West Conference matchup Thursday night at Titan Gymnasium.

The Aggies, who led for nearly the entire contest, saw a 13-point third-quarter advantage whittled down to a single possession in the final minutes before executing down the stretch to improve to 12-5 overall. The Titans, despite a spirited effort and a significant rebounding edge, fell to 8-9.

The most critical sequence unfolded late in the fourth quarter with the outcome hanging in the balance. After Cal State Fullerton’s Cristina Jones converted a layup with 3:23 remaining to cut the UC Davis lead to 61-59, the Aggies’ offense, which had sputtered at times, found its rhythm at the perfect moment.

On the ensuing possession, UC Davis guard Ryann Bennett missed a layup but secured her own offensive rebound and put it back to push the lead to four. Following a Talia Maxwell layup for the Titans, Aggies’ center Megan Norris was fouled and made one of two free throws for a 64-61 edge with 2:32 left.

After a defensive stop, Bennett found Norris for a crucial 3-pointer from the top of the key, extending the lead to 67-61 with just 1:54 on the clock. That shot, one of 13 made by UC Davis from beyond the arc, served as the decisive blow, forcing Cal State Fullerton into a desperate foul situation it could not overcome.

Bennett, a junior from Long Beach, orchestrated the victory with a complete performance, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists. Her backcourt partner, Avery Sussex of Coquitlam, Canada, led all scorers with 20 points, including five 3-pointers, and added four assists. Norris, from Menlo Park, provided a vital interior presence with 15 points, while contributing four assists and a key block in the final quarter.

Cal State Fullerton was led by the tandem of Jones and Maxwell. Jones, also from Long Beach, scored 15 points and was relentless on the offensive glass. Maxwell, a Fresno native, used her 6-foot-3 frame to score 17 points and protect the rim with two blocks. Guard Dylan Swindle of Laveen, Arizona, added 13 points, all in the first three quarters.

The Titans’ effort was fueled by dominance on the boards, where they outrebounded UC Davis 20-15 on the offensive end, leading to 18 second-chance points. However, they were hampered by 18 turnovers and an inability to contain UC Davis’s perimeter attack, which shot 36.1% from 3-point range compared to their own 33.3%.

UC Davis built its lead methodically, holding a narrow 34-36 edge at halftime. A 9-2 run to open the third quarter, capped by a Sussex 3-pointer, gave the Aggies their largest lead at 43-34. The Titans chipped away throughout the second half, using their rebounding advantage to create extra possessions, but could never draw even after the opening minutes.

The Aggies’ efficiency proved decisive. They scored 73 points on 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 99.9, while the Titans managed only 67 points on 74 possessions, a rating of 91.0. UC Davis also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 14 of 17 attempts, while Cal State Fullerton went 9 for 16.

With the win, UC Davis continues its conference campaign on the road at UC Irvine on Saturday. Cal State Fullerton looks to rebound at home against UC Riverside the same day. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Davis on Feb. 19.