Thorpe leaves behind one of the most successful eras in program history, during which she guided the Aggies to sustained success while helping countless student-athletes grow on and off the field.

Thorpe finishes her UC Davis tenure as the second-winningest coach in program history with 273 victories and is just the third coach in school history to surpass the 200-win mark. Across a 23-year head coaching career that included stops at UC Davis, Boise State and Whittier College, Thorpe compiled 496 career victories, including 446 at the Division I level.

“After 23 seasons in coaching, including 12 unforgettable years at UC Davis, retiring is both bittersweet and deeply meaningful,” said Thorpe.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with so many dedicated assistant coaches, remarkable players, and wonderful colleagues throughout my career. We experienced wins, milestones, and accomplishments that I will always be proud of, but the relationships we built, the lessons we shared, and the moments we experienced together are what will always matter to me most. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. It has truly been one of the great honors of my life.”

Noted Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca, “Erin’s career at UC Davis reflects a remarkable commitment to our university, to our student-athletes and to the sport of softball. She led the program with dedication and helped guide it through significant moments in its history. We appreciate all that she has contributed to UC Davis Athletics and wish Erin and her family the very best as she begins this next chapter in her journey.”

Thorpe’s final season at UC Davis was one of the most successful in program history as the Aggies set a new standard in the Big West Conference and positioned themselves for continued success heading into the Mountain West Conference.

The Aggies posted 17 conference victories in 2026, the program’s most ever in the Big West Conference, and earned the program’s first appearance in the Big West championship tournament. Along the way, UC Davis recorded a signature victory over Cal State Fullerton, which was ranked No. 4 in the national mid-major poll at the time, and completed a historic road sweep of Long Beach State.

Throughout her tenure, Thorpe coached some of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history. Brooke Yanez became the program’s first All-American under her leadership in 2019, while Anna Dethlefson earned Big West Player of the Year honors in 2023. Thorpe also guided Yanez to Big West Pitcher of the Year recognition in 2019 and helped Ashley Sawai earn Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors in 2024. Since Thorpe took over the program in 2015, the Aggies have earned 41 All-Big West selections and seven National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region honors.

Several Aggies also etched their names into the record book during Thorpe’s tenure. Anna Dethlefson became the first player in program history to surpass 100 career stolen bases, finishing with 110 and ranking second in Big West Conference history.

Other Aggies established numerous UC Davis Division I-era records, including Alyse Rojas in career and single-season batting average and on-base percentage, Sarah Starks in career and single-season home runs and career RBIs, and Kenedi Brown in career wins and strikeouts. During Thorpe’s final season, the Aggies set Division I-era program records for hits, doubles and walks while posting the second-highest totals in batting average and RBIs.

The Aggies also enjoyed several landmark seasons under Thorpe’s leadership, including a 39-win campaign in 2019, which marks the program’s highest win total since 2003.

Prior to arriving at UC Davis, Thorpe became the winningest coach in Boise State softball history. A former All-American student-athlete herself, Thorpe coached the Broncos’ Tara Glover to the program’s first All-America honor and six players earned all-region recognition and 18 received all-conference accolades during her tenure in Boise. She was the head coach at Whittier College before taking over at Boise State.

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The event celebrates the individuals, performances and moments that defined another season for Aggie Athletics, with performances stretching from late August until June. Awards honoring excellence in competition, academics, leadership, resilience and community impact were presented throughout the evening, with student-athletes earning both department-selected and peer-voted honors.

“The Aggie Awards are an opportunity to step back and appreciate everything our student-athletes invest into this experience,” said Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. “There’s so much work that happens behind the scenes, the early mornings, the setbacks, the leadership, the commitment to teammates and to this university. Nights like this give us the chance to celebrate not only what our student-athletes accomplished, but how they accomplished it. We are incredibly proud of the way they continue to represent UC Davis.”

2026 AGGIE AWARDS

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

W.P. Lindley Award (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) The W.P. Lindley Award is the highest individual honor a UC Davis student-athlete can receive, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.

This year’s recipient embodied all three. A selfless leader who consistently put her team first, Jade Light helped author one of the greatest seasons in UC Davis Volleyball history while simultaneously excelling in one of the university’s most demanding academic paths.

Light earned Big West Player of the Year honors, surpassed 1,000 career kills and became UC Davis Volleyball’s first All-American since 1996, all while double majoring in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

Light joins a long list of distinguished Lindley Award recipients, including Jen Gross in 1997 as an Aggie basketball star. Gross now is UCD’s women’s basketball head coach.

Other recipients include Niko Rocak (men’s basketball, 2025), Matt Cordova (men’s basketball, 1991), Steve Gerhart (track and field, 1985), Kaitlyn Gregg (track, 2010), Amber Nusser (equestrian, 2023) and the original Lindley winner George Bogart, a University Farm football star in 1923.

Dr. Hubert Heitman Award (Female Athlete of the Year) The Dr. Hubert Heitman Award is presented annually to the Aggie Female Athlete of the Year.

This year’s recipient continued cementing her place among the top gymnasts in UC Davis history during another standout season with the Blue & Gold. Amelia Moneymaker qualified for NCAA Regionals while delivering some of the highest scores ever recorded in program history.

During the 2026 season, Moneymaker scored a 9.900 on floor and tied her career-high with a 9.950 against William & Mary — the second-highest floor score in program history. A team captain and consistent leader throughout her career, Moneymaker once again helped elevate the Aggies on the national stage.

Other Heitman winners include Megan Bertsch (basketball, 2019), Erinn Beattie (track, 2019), Sarah Sumpter (track and cross country, 2012), Lisa Kennedy (volleyball, 1981 and 1982), Pam Martin (basketball, 1978 and 1979), Tina Anex (track, 1976) and Carolyn Ishii (tennis, 1974).

Colby E. “Babe” Slater Award (Male Athlete of the Year) The Colby E. “Babe” Slater Award is presented annually to the Aggie Male Athlete of the Year.

This year’s recipient captained UC Davis men’s soccer while leading the Aggies in goals, assists and points during the 2025 season. A Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree and back-to-back All-Big West First Team selection, Cason Goodman continued establishing himself as one of the top players in the conference while helping guide the Aggies through another strong campaign.

Widely respected for his leadership and consistency, Goodman helped set the standard for a program that remained among the conference’s best throughout the season. Alongside his brother Luke, the duo also became the first siblings in program history to earn All-Big West First Team honors in the same season.

Among other Slater recipients are Eli Pepper (basketball, 2023 and 2024), Lan Larison (football, 2024 and 2025), Preston Jackson (football, 1995), Robert Dilts (track, 1995), Scott Barry (football, 1985), Chris Petersen (football, 1987), Bob Biggs (football, 1973), Ken O’Brien (football, 1983), Mike Moroski (football and baseball, 1979), Jonathan Peterson (track and cross country, 2011 and 2012), Ed Haver (track, 1971), Mike Talmadge (tennis, 1970) and Alan Budde (basketball, 1968).

Sarah Sumpter Perseverance Award The Sarah Sumpter Perseverance Award honors a current UC Davis student-athlete who has overcome significant adversity to return to competition.

During the 2025 season, Jadyn Wakita faced significant challenges that tested her resilience both on and off the competition floor. Despite multiple setbacks, she continued approaching every challenge with positivity, determination and an unwavering commitment to her team.

Her perseverance paid off during the 2026 season as she returned to competition and delivered some of the strongest performances of her career, including one of her top beam scores while continuing to contribute in the bars lineup throughout the postseason.

Wakita exemplified the resilience, positivity and determination that define the spirit of the Sarah Sumpter Award.

Marya Welch Award The Marya Welch Award is presented annually to the women’s team with the highest cumulative GPA. RECIPIENT – Women’s Golf (3.77 GPA)

Lysle Leach Award The Lysle Leach Award is presented annually to the men’s team with the highest cumulative GPA. RECIPIENT – Men’s Basketball (3.31 GPA)

STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARDS

New Aggie of the Year Presented to the student-athlete who made an immediate impact while embodying Aggie Pride during their first year in the Blue & Gold.

A Davis native, Ella Ackerman won the Big West title in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:15.47 and was named Big West Freshman of the Year. As the highest-scoring Aggie at the conference championships, she helped UC Davis to a runner-up finish, the program’s best conference placement in a decade.

Aggie Pride Award Presented to the student-athlete who best exemplifies Aggie PRIDE through leadership, involvement, spirit and commitment to the UC Davis community.

A member of the women’s water polo program, Sarah Ellis-Keeler was recognized for the leadership, involvement and spirit she demonstrated across the UC Davis community throughout the year.

Best Upset of the Year Presented for the most unexpected and memorable victory of the year.

In a triple-overtime thriller, women’s basketball outlasted UC San Diego 88-80, erasing a 13-point deficit and battling through 15 ties and 15 lead changes. Megan Norris pulled down 29 rebounds while Nya Epps and Avery Sussex led the Aggies in scoring.

Moment of the Year Presented for the most thrilling and unforgettable moment of the season.

Amelia Moneymaker earned the honor for her 9.950 floor routine against William & Mary, a score that matched the fourth-best floor mark in MPSF history and stood as the highest score in any event across the conference this season. With the Aggies trailing entering the final rotation, her performance helped lift UC Davis to the win.

Women’s Team of the Year Presented to the women’s program that demonstrated exceptional success while embodying Aggie Pride throughout the year.

Volleyball captured the program’s first regular-season Big West title and posted its first undefeated home season, racking up 21 wins, including 16 in conference, as Jade Light, Mia Starr and Ximena Cordero Barr swept the conference’s Player, Setter and Libero of the Year honors.

Equestrian swept its ECAC slate, earned the No. 1 seed and won the conference title with a championship-final victory over South Dakota State, with Lauren Kolbe and Mya Clader earning NCEA All-America honors.

Men’s Team of the Year Presented to the men’s program that demonstrated exceptional success while embodying Aggie Pride throughout the year.

In just its third season in the Big West, men’s water polo knocked off top-seeded, defending champion Long Beach State 12-11 to claim the program’s first Big West title. Head Coach Daniel Leyson was named Big West Coach of the Year, and five Aggies earned All-Conference honors, led by Thomas Kiesling’s first-team All-Big West and third-team All-America selections.

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“It’s been a long time coming,” said Josh Flushman, UC Davis’ Senior Associate Athletics Director.

“We’ve been trying to get a game with Harvard specifically, and with the Ivy League in general, for years.”

In fact, the attempts go all the way back to the days of legendary head coach Jim Sochor, who led UCD to unparalleled success when he guided Aggie fortunes from 1970-88.

The home and home series will find the Aggies heading to Cambridge for a Sept. 18, 2027 game, with Harvard coming to Davis on Sept. 20, 2031.

The 2027 game will be the season opener for Harvard, which is a typical late start for the Ivy League.

While UCD’s 2027 schedule has not been finalized, it will likely be the Aggies’ third or fourth game of the season. UCD will also play at UCLA in 2027.

“We have always wanted to play an Ivy League opponent and more specifically Harvard,” said UC Davis head coach Tim Plough.

“Our shared commitment to performance on the field and in the classroom has always felt like the makings of a fun matchup. This has been years in the making, and we look forward to the challenge. We hope this is a game we can continue for years to come.”

The Aggies will become the third Big Sky team ever to face an Ivy League opponent, joining Cal Poly and Montana State.

Cal Poly is 1-1, having defeated Brown in 2018 and losing to Yale in 2013.

Montana State knocked off Yale last season during the 2025 FCS Playoffs.

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

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The Aggies, 15-9 in the Big West and 26-22 overall under 11th-year head coach Erin Thorpe, dropped the Gauchos, 8-3 and 2-1, on Saturday, before losing Sunday’s series finale, 3-0.

The top six teams in the 10-team league qualify for the double-elimination Big West tournament, with the winner moving on to the NCAA championships through regional play.

Fullerton is running away with the regular-season crown with a 22-2 mark, with one of those losses coming to the Aggies.

Hawaii is second at 18-6, followed by UC Santa Barbara at 17-7, with the Aggies and Long Beach State tied for fourth at 15-9.

UC San Diego is sixth at 9-15.

The Aggies finish the season with three weekend games at Cal Poly, 4-20, with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m.

Should the Aggies tie with either Santa Barbara or Long Beach in the final standings, they would win the tiebreaker based on head-to-head play with those schools.

UCD swept Long Beach State earlier this month.

Gia Felice, a senior from Hollister, leads the Aggies with a .367 batting average, with Sydney Polli at .366 and Alyssa Dethlefson at .308 with five home runs and 29 RBI. Dethlefson also leads the team with 23 steals on 28 attempts.

Naomi Kalanetra, who starred at Davis High School, leads the Aggies with six home runs.

Ashley Sawai has been lights out in the circle with an 11-4 mark and 3.26 earned run average.

Caroline Grimes is 13-14 with a 3.43 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 157 innings of work.

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While team members and program insiders have known of the decision for several weeks, it was kept under wraps until last Saturday and has been greeted with enthusiasm by Aggie officials.

Porter Connors is a standout linebacker for the Aggies, while brother Rex, a defensive back, has already set the UC Davis career record for tackles with 313.

The two are considered integral pieces of what is expected to be a stellar Aggie defense in 2026 under highly regarded defensive coordinator Matt Coombs.

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The Tritons dominated Friday night’s opener, 9-4, scored late to steal a 3-2 win Saturday night, then took Sunday afternoon’s finale, 9-5.

UCSD leads the Big West at 8-1, while the Aggies slipped into a tie for sixth at 5-7.

UCD will host USF in a non-conference game Tuesday at 6 p.m. on what is being billed as $2 Tuesday.

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The loss, before a gathering of 438 at the Firestone Fieldhouse on the Pepperdine campus, ended the UC Davis season at 23-11. Pepperdine is now 20-12 and moves on to a second-round matchup with Utah Tech Sunday afternoon in Malibu. Had the Aggies won, they would have hosted Utah Tech.

This was a back-and-forth battle for the ages.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” said Aggie head coach Jen Gross, who has been directing UCD hoop fortunes for the last 15 years.

With a nod to departing seniors Megan Norris, Nya Epps and Victoria Baker, Gross noted each of their contributions and said she will miss this talented trio.

“That’s what you hope for as a coach, that you’re sad to see your seniors leave and you know you’re going to miss them, but they’ll always be a part of your life.”

Pepperdine coach Katie Faulkner was ecstatic with the last-second turn of events.

“March is fun,” Faulkner noted. “I am really proud of our togetherness. This is a team that thrives on growth and is dedicated to getting better.”

The Aggies led early at 18-11, but an 8-0 run gave Pepperdine its first lead of the night, a lead that changed hands eight times before the Waves emerged with a 39-36 lead at the half.

UCD regained the lead at 41-39 early in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from Epps and UCD enjoyed its biggest lead of the fourth quarter at 56-52 on a layup by Ryann Bennett.

At that point, however, Pepperdine went on a devastating 14-3 run and appeared to be in firm control with a 68-60 lead entering the final 90 seconds.

The Aggies had other ideas.

Noted Gross, “One of my mentors, Jim Sochor (former Aggie head football coach), always said to find joy in everything you do, so it was a great opportunity to get back into the game.”

Avery Sussex was fouled attempting a 3-pointer and sank all three free throws to cut the deficit to 68-63 with 1:28 remaining. Then, after a shot-clock violation on Pepperdine, it was Sussex again with a successful trey to trim the advantage to 68-66 with 39.3 seconds left, and suddenly it was game on.

Pepperdine tried to work the clock, but Epps swiped a Pepperdine pass and Gross called a timeout with 12.0 remaining to set up either a tying field goal or a game-winning trey.

The ball went quickly to Bennett, who hit a short bank shot to tie things at 68, leaving Pepperdine 6.8 seconds to respond.

And respond the Waves did, finding Taija Santa Maria for a step-back, 3-point dagger that left her hands just before the final buzzer sounded and the backboard turned red.

Speaking of Norris, Epps and Baker, Gross noted, “They are just amazing human beings, amazing players and great teammates. They are everything we look for when we recruit players to our program.”

That trio will certainly be missed, but the cupboard is by no means bare as UCD takes a bold step into the Mountain West Conference next season.

“It’s been such an incredible journey in the Big West and the thing I’ll miss most are the friendships with so many great coaches,” Gross said.

“But at the same time I’m excited about this opportunity and the new challenges and the future of UC Davis.”

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

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However, shortly after the game concluded, Aggie head coach Jen Gross hinted that the Aggies hoped to get a bid to the postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament, a hope that turned into reality when the WNIT revealed its 48-team field Sunday evening.

The Aggies will open play in the single-elimination WNIT Thursday at 6 p.m. at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

The game will be telecast live on ESPN+ and broadcast live on radio station KDVS (90.3 FM).

The game will be held in the 3,104-seat Firestone Fieldhouse on the Pepperdine campus.

The Waves finished sixth in the West Coast Conference and were defeated by the University of San Francisco, 86-69, in their opening game of the WCC tournament.

Pepperdine finished the regular season 19-12 overall and 10-8 in the WCC and had a 2-0 mark in nonconference games against Big West opponents, with wins of 69-63 over Cal State Northridge and 84-70 over Cal State Fullerton.

The Aggies are 23-10 overall and finished third in the Big West at 15-5.

If the Aggies get past Pepperdine, they will host Southern Utah on Monday night. SUU has a first-round bye. UCD officials say the Monday game will offer free admission to everyone.

Ryann Bennett leads the Aggies in scoring with 15.1 points a game and is also the team leader in assists with 133 and in steals with 52.

Nya Epps adds 13.0 points a game, while Megan Norris, UCD’s all-time career rebounding leader, averages 12.3 points and 12.7 rebounds a game, along with 47 of the team’s 81 blocks.

Avery Sussex, who made the Big West’s all-tournament team after exploding for 50 points in two games, contributes 12.2 points per game, 107 assists and 45 steals for the Aggies.

For the uninitiated, the WNIT is not the NCAA tournament, which announced its 68-team field earlier on Sunday. It’s also not to be confused with the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, the WBIT, which is owned and operated by the NCAA and also announced its 32-team field before the WNIT made its selections from the schools remaining.

Between the three tournaments, 148 of the NCAA’s 355 women’s basketball teams will be playing in the postseason.

The Aggies may want to take a map of California with them to explain to their hosts exactly where the UC Davis campus is located.

According to an official press release from Pepperdine, “The Waves will host UC Davis out of the Bay Area.”

Which is like saying Malibu is located in the Mojave Desert.

Live and learn.

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

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The 84-79 loss dropped UCD to 23-10 on the season after the Aggies finished third in the Big West regular season. San Diego, which advances to Saturday’s championship game against Hawaii, is now 23-8.

“I just wanted so badly for this team to win the championship,” said an emotional Aggie head coach Jen Gross at the post-game press conference, where she was accompanied by star senior Megan Norris.

“When I think of this team, the one word that comes to mind is pride. They worked so hard all year and were so deserving of this championship. I’m tremendously proud of everything they accomplished this year.”

Norris, whose stellar career saw her set UCD’s all-time rebounding record, echoed her coach’s heartfelt sentiments.

“I am so grateful to have been a part of this program for the last five years,” said Norris, who finished her final game with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

“This is family. Everyone knows what a special program this is.”

Added Gross as she gestured toward Norris on the podium, “I love you, Megan. You’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. In the years to come, I’m not going to remember this game, but I am going to remember this team and how they came together. This is a special group. I couldn’t ask for anything more. They came to practice every day and did it at an elite level. They took so much ownership of the program.”

Gross noted that while the Aggie women will not be in the NCAA tournament, they might possibly earn a trip to the postseason WNIT, with pairings to be announced after the NCAA reveals its March Madness brackets.

Gross had high praise for Friday’s victors, a team the Aggies had defeated twice in close games during the regular season.

“Congratulations to San Diego,” said the Aggie coach. “They stepped up and played well. They made some big plays.”

The Aggies came out on fire in this one, racing to an early 11-2 lead as Norris, Ryann Bennett and Nya Epps all contributed on the offensive end, but just as quickly, the Tritons struck back, going on an electrifying 20-4 run to finish the quarter with a 22-17 advantage.

A basket by Victoria Baker narrowed the UCSD lead to 29-28, but again the Tritons responded to go into halftime with a 42-35 cushion.

San Diego led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but Norris on defense and Avery Sussex on offense rallied the Aggies one final time, with a basket by Sussex cutting the deficit to 63-60 with 7:24 remaining in the game.

Sussex, coming off a career-high 23 points in Thursday’s quarterfinal win over UC Riverside, outdid herself with 27 points, including five long-range bombs. Epps had another stellar effort with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

UCSD, however, responded to the Aggie rally with a 14-5 run to push the margin to 77-65 and UCD came no closer than five points the rest of the way.

UC San Diego head coach Heidi VanDerveer was gracious in victory.

“I have the utmost respect for Jen and how they run their program,” VanDerveer said. “They do everything the right way and are always well prepared. They bring out the best in us.”

Although UC Davis will join the Mountain West next season and UCSD will be moving to the West Coast Conference a year after that, both coaches say this is an intense, but respectful rivalry they’d like to continue as non-conference opponents.

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

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The 82-70 loss ended the Aggie season at 19-14 overall after UCD went 11-9 in Big West play.

UCD opened the tournament with a hard-fought win over UC Santa Barbara Wednesday night, but couldn’t maintain the momentum in the quarterfinal round against Fullerton.

Both teams were cold from the start, putting up enough bricks to add another wing to the arena.

At one point in the early going, Fullerton went over six minutes without scoring a point, but still led the game, 5-4, as the Aggies matched the Titans miss for miss for miss.

The Aggies managed to take a 16-13 lead on a basket from Isaiah Chappell and two free throws from Omer Suljanovic, but the advantage was short-lived.

Fullerton finally found its footing and went on a blistering 25-6 run, taking a 38-26 lead into halftime.

The Titans steadily expanded that lead to 70-49 with five minutes remaining, but the Aggies weren’t yet ready to call it a season.

UCD used a pressing, hounding defense to put together an 11-0 run and managed to cut the deficit to 74-68 with 2:04 remaining before Fullerton held on down the stretch.

“Congratulations to Fullerton,” said Aggie head coach Jim Les.

“I thought they played really well right from the start. We’ve had a tough stretch of games and some key injuries and it finally caught up with us. On both ends of the floor we were a little bit slower and a little bit behind and Fullerton made the most of it.”

Fullerton head coach Dedrique Taylor, who played two years for the Aggies in the late 90s and graduated from UC Davis with a degree in sociology, was thrilled with the win over his alma mater.

“The game tonight obviously wasn’t pretty, but our guys found a way to get it done,” said Taylor, who was named Big West Coach of the Year this season in a vote of the league’s coaches.

The game marks the Aggies’ final appearance in the Big West Conference, with UCD moving the majority of its athletic programs, including men’s and women’s basketball, to the rugged Mountain West Conference beginning July 1.

“This has been a great league for us,” noted Les.

“I’ve enjoyed its competitive nature and the rivalries we’ve created. I’m excited about where we are going, but grateful for the experiences we had in the Big West. I’m more sentimental, however, about the guys in the locker room who have meant so much to me and to our program.”

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

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The win moves the No. 3 Aggies into Friday’s semifinal round for a 2:30 p.m. game against No. 2 UC San Diego.

The Aggies finished 15-5 in Big West regular season play, while San Diego tied for first with UC Irvine, both at 17-3.

However, UCD was 2-0 against UCSD, winning 66-62 in San Diego and 88-80 in triple overtime a month ago in Davis.

“Obviously, we handled them easily in triple overtime,” Aggie head coach Jen Gross said with a laugh about Friday’s forthcoming battle.

“We know how good they are and how well coached they are, but it’s going to be fun. I still think our best basketball is ahead of us.”

The Aggies made it to the tournament title game a year ago, but ended their season with a 75-66 loss to UCSD. Gross hopes to reverse that result this time around.

In Friday’s other semifinal, No. 1 UC Irvine takes on No. 4 Hawaii. The title game is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m.

The tournament winner moves on to next week’s NCAA tournament.

UCD had defeated Riverside twice during the regular season, but the Highlanders put up a fierce battle before the Aggies finally pulled away down the stretch.

Ryann Bennett took the opening tip from Megan Norris and drove for an easy layup with the game just five seconds old. Bennett had another basket and a 3-pointer as the Aggies took an 11-4 lead and looked as if they might make quick work of UCR.

A trey from Victoria Baker and two free throws from Norris gave UCD a 30-16 advantage, but UCR closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run to trim the deficit to just six points at the half.

Two free throws from Hannah Wickstrom gave the Highlanders their first lead of the night at 33-32 and suddenly it was game on.

A Baker 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Sussex gave the lead back to UCD, but the Aggies led by just a single point when all-everything Megan Norris fouled out with just under four minutes to play.

But that’s when the Aggies put together a run for the ages.

Sussex started things by hitting three straight free throws after she was fouled on a long-range attempt, then 30 seconds later hit a 3-pointer. When Nya Epps followed with a pair of free throws, the Aggies had gone on an 8-0 run in a matter of 49 seconds to take a 62-53 lead with 2:48 remaining.

“It was a heck of a game and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” said Gross.

“I just felt like our team kept finding a way to get through the adversity.”

Sussex admitted to having a slow start in the first half, but credited her teammates for her second-half performance.

“I just needed to get going and they really helped me,” said the sophomore from Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Sussex finished with 23 points, while Bennett had 15 and Norris added 12 points and 14 rebounds. Sussex was especially deadly on free throws, finishing 11 of 13 at the line.

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