UC Davis' Cierra Hall (32), far left, celebrates with teammate UC Davis' Emma Gibb (14) after they won an NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Cierra Hall scored 23 points, Evanne Turner had 22 and top-seeded UC Davis pulled away late in the third quarter to beat No. 2 seed UC Irvine 61-42 on Saturday night in the Big West Conference tournament championship.
It was the second straight title and third overall for UC Davis (13-2), which also won the tournament in 2011. The Aggies are also the first to win back-to-back championships since Cal State Northridge in 2014 and 2015.
Hall, the Big West Conference Player of the Year, and Turner were a combined 18-of-28 shooting and made six of the Aggies' seven 3-pointers. Sage Stobbart added five points and 12 rebounds.
Neither team held more than a four-point lead until the Aggies ended the third quarter on a 10-2 surge for a 40-34 advantage. Turner scored 11 points and Hall added six as the Aggies outscored UCI 21-8 in the fourth.
Chloe Webb had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Anteaters (15-9). Kayla Williams added 12 points on four 3-pointers.
UC Davis leads the series 32-9 and is 4-1 against UCI in the tournament. It was the Anteaters' fifth appearance in the championship game, and they won the title in 1997.
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UC Davis' Cierra Hall (32) passes the ball near UC Irvine's Tahlia Garza (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Evanne Turner (15) goes up for a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Kayla Konrad (23) drives the ball past UC Irvine's Chloe Webb (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis? Mackenzie Trpcic (00) is pressured by UC Irving's Chloe Webb (2) and Kayla Williams (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Cierra Hall (32) goes up for a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Emma Gibb (14) goes up to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Kayla Konrad (23) reacts to a traveling call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Davis' Mackenzie Trpcic, bottom, and UC Irvine's Haleigh Talbert (21) go after the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
The Associated Press
UC Irvine's Chloe Webb (2) throws a pass as she falls during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Davis in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill
The Associated Press