DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Davis women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to a 68-51 victory over Cal State Northridge in a Big West Conference game Thursday night at The Pavilion.

The Aggies improved to 15-6 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while the Matadors fell to 6-13 and 1-7.

UC Davis guard Nya Epps led all scorers with 27 points, fueling an offensive attack that seized control from the opening tip. The Aggies raced to a 20-12 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 38-18 by halftime, holding Cal State Northridge to just six points in the second period. The Matadors’ first-half point total of 18 matched a season low.

The defensive pressure was relentless, with UC Davis forcing 16 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. The Aggies also tallied 10 steals, led by Ryann Bennett’s three. Offensively, UC Davis shared the ball effectively, registering 10 assists on 26 made field goals. Bennett finished with 10 points and three assists, while Megan Norris added 10 points, four assists and nine rebounds.

Cal State Northridge, which shot just 30.2% from the field for the game, never recovered from the early deficit. The Matadors showed life in the fourth quarter, outscoring UC Davis 24-16, but the rally came far too late.

Alondra Lizama and Saray White each scored 15 points to lead Cal State Northridge. White also recorded the team’s only block. The Matadors struggled mightily with ball security and offensive flow, managing only five assists against their 16 turnovers.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second quarter. With UC Davis already leading 20-12, the Aggies clamped down defensively. Over a nearly six-minute span, they held Cal State Northridge without a field goal, embarking on a 14-2 run that broke the game open. Epps was instrumental during the surge, scoring eight points, including a driving layup and a mid-range jumper. The run was punctuated by an Avery Sussex three-pointer, assisted by Norris, which pushed the lead to 34-14. The Matadors’ offensive woes were encapsulated by a stretch of eight consecutive missed field goals and four turnovers during the Aggies’ key run.

UC Davis maintained its efficiency after halftime, answering every brief Cal State Northridge attempt to build momentum. When the Matadors cut the lead to 40-31 in the third quarter on a Rita Nazario three-pointer, the Aggies responded with six straight points, capped by another Epps layup off a Bennett assist, to restore a 15-point advantage.

The Aggies’ depth was also a factor, with Victoria Baker contributing nine points and two steals off the bench. Theoni Tsami added three points and five rebounds in reserve duty.

For Cal State Northridge, the loss extended a difficult stretch in conference play. The Matadors have now lost seven of their last eight games. They will look to regroup quickly as they travel to face UC San Diego on Saturday.

UC Davis, which entered the game with a 98% probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, will aim to continue its strong conference season at home against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

The announced attendance at The Pavilion was 537.