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WNBAUC Davis (12-18) Vs. UC Irvine (12-18)
GAME NOTES: The UC Davis Aggies are set to play their first-ever Big West Conference Tournament game tonight, as they tangle with the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first round at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The Aggies were fully active in the BWC for the first time last season, but their 2-14 mark prevented them from participating in the postseason. Despite four straight losses to close out the regular season, UCD still earned a spot in this year's tourney and the eighth seed with a 7-9 finish. On the flip side, UCI captured wins in four of its final five bouts move into a three-way tie for fourth place at 8-8. After the tie-breaker scenario was worked out the Anteaters landed the fifth seed and a first round game. Despite winning 20 games in this tourney, UCI has never taken home the title, although it did reach the finals last season. The Anteaters lead the all-time series with UCD, but the Aggies swept both meetings during the regular season. The winner of this game will move on to the quarterfinals on Thursday against an opponent still to be determined, as the BWC Tournament re-seeds after each round.
The Aggies posses one of the more potent attacks in the BWC, as they are generating 73.6 ppg on the season. UCD is an outstanding free-throw shooting team as well, converting on 78.4 percent of its chances. Vince Oliver heads this attack with 15.5 ppg and he is an 81.0 percent free-throw shooter. Joe Harden turns in 14.9 ppg and a team-best 7.2 rpg and he is also effective at the stripe, making good on 80.2 percent of his attempts. Dominic Calegari contributes 10.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg for UCD, while Mark Payne checks in with 10.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg. Payne has also been in charge of running the offense, handing out a team-best 5.0 apg.
The Anteaters aren't nearly as explosive as the Aggies, but they did average 73.2 ppg over their final five contests. UCI is an efficient shooting team, connecting on 40.2 percent of its opportunities from beyond the arc and 75.9 percent at the charity stripe. Eric Wise tops the rosters in scoring at 14.2 ppg and he also pulls in 5.9 rpg and shoots 77.0 percent at the foul line. Michael Hunter follows with 11.8 ppg on the strength of 39.2 percent shooting from downtown, while Kevin Bland logs 10.0 ppg and a team-high 7.2 rpg. Brett Lauer chips in with 8.7 ppg and he is dangerous from three-point range, knocking down 50.4 percent of his chances.
UCI seemed to come together down the stretch and it should be able to use that momentum and another sound shooting performance to outlast the Aggies tonight.
Predicted OutcomeUC Irvine 75, UC Davis 70Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
