UC Davis’ historic run in the women's basketball postseason came to an end March 25 in Assembly Hall at the University of Indiana, where the host Hoosiers defeated the Aggies, 81-66, in the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
AGGIES IN THE WNIT
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Round 1: UC Davis 82, Idaho 62
Round 2: UC Davis 74, Wyoming 64
Sweet 16: UC Davis 71, Kansas State 69
Elite 8: UC Davis 66, Indiana 81
UC Davis won three games to get that far in the WNIT — one game farther than last year — making this year the program's most successful postseason since moving up to Division I in 2008. The Aggies finished the year with a most impressive record of 28-7 and their second consecutive Big West Conference title.
This year marked the Aggie women’s fifth trip to the Division I postseason, having gone to the WNIT four times previously and to the NCAA Tournament once, in 2011.
In last year’s WNIT, the Aggie women defeated Utah and Colorado State for the program’s first postseason wins ever in Division I, before bowing out in the Sweet 16. This year’s team made it to the Elite 8 after defeating Idaho at home (the first time UC Davis hosted a postseason game in Division I) and Wyoming and Kansas State on the road. In between playing the Cowgirls and the Wildcats, the Aggies came home for finals.
Coach Jennifer Gross finds herself in a “final” of her own, as one of 10 finalists for the 2018 U.S. Marine Corps/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Pat Summitt Trophy as the nation's coach of the year. Gross is already a two-time Big West Conference Coach of the Year, last year and this year.
Read what some of her colleagues and others tweeted about her and her team's run in the WNIT:
UC Davis
Incredibly proud of the historic season that @UCDavisWBB has had this year. We’ll see you when you come back! #GoAgs
Kevin Blue, athletics director
So proud of @UCDavisWBB. Took a back seat to nobody, regardless of conference. Thank you to our donors and supporters! Great example of what @UCDavisAggies teams are capable of with your support. More to come. We will keep working, building, growing together! #GoAgs
Twila Kaufman, women's soccer coach
Congratulations to @CoachJenGross and @UCDavisWBB. These women are amazing ambassadors of our university and athletic department. #GoAgs #ThesePeople
Dan Hawkins, football coach
A terrific run by @UCDavisWBB ! @CoachJenGross has build a dynamic powerhouse @ucdavis . Congrats on being classy, gritty, and AWESOME!
Martin Mangrich
What a season, @UCDavisWBB! Thanks for taking us on this amazing ride with you!
Matthew Higa
A big THANK YOU to each & every member of the @UCDavisWBB team! You all fought like Aggies & represented @ucdavis well! We are all very, very proud of you! See you all next year! #GoAgs !!!