DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Big West Conference clash, the UC Davis women’s basketball team used a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops to hold off a persistent Cal State Fullerton squad 70-64 on Thursday night at The Pavilion.

The Aggies improved to 20-7 overall and solidified their position near the top of the conference standings, while the Titans fell to 15-11, seeing their two-game win streak snapped.

The game was characterized by runs, with UC Davis building early leads only to see Cal State Fullerton claw back each time. The Aggies led 32-28 at halftime, but the third quarter became the decisive frame. After the Titans closed to within a single possession early in the period, UC Davis unleashed a 15-4 run to open its largest lead of the game at 47-36. The surge was fueled by the inside-outside combination of Megan Norris and Nya Epps, who consistently found answers for every Titan push.

Cal State Fullerton, demonstrating the resilience that has marked its season, refused to fade. Led by guard Maddy Tauro, who scored a team-high 16 points, the Titans mounted a final charge in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Kya Pearson and a driving layup by Cristina Jones cut the UC Davis lead to 63-60 with just over three minutes to play, setting up a tense finish.

The most critical sequence of the game followed immediately. On the ensuing possession, UC Davis worked the ball to Epps, who calmly sank a clutch three-pointer from the wing to push the lead back to six. After a Titan turnover, Ryann Bennett found Epps again for a layup, extending the advantage to 68-60 with just over two minutes remaining. That five-point swing in less than a minute effectively sealed the victory, as Cal State Fullerton could get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Epps led all scorers with 19 points for UC Davis, while Norris added 17 points, three assists and two blocks. Bennett orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with 16 points and a game-high six assists. The Aggies’ starting five accounted for 68 of the team’s 70 points, with Tegan Young contributing 10 points and four assists and Avery Sussex adding six points and three assists.

For Cal State Fullerton, Tauro’s 16 points led the way. Dylan Swindle provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, and Pearson finished with nine. The Titans struggled with ball security at key moments, committing 22 turnovers which the Aggies converted into 21 points.

The game was a rematch of a Jan. 15 contest, also won by UC Davis 73-67. The Aggies have now won six straight in the series. A crowd of 584 watched the contest, which saw UC Davis shoot efficiently from the field while limiting Cal State Fullerton’s second-chance opportunities.

The victory keeps UC Davis in strong contention for a high seed in the upcoming Big West Tournament. Cal State Fullerton, despite the loss, remains in the hunt for a postseason berth but will look to cut down on turnovers as it heads into the final stretch of conference play.

Both teams return to action on Saturday. UC Davis will host UC Riverside, while Cal State Fullerton returns home to face Cal State Bakersfield.