LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 18th-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team won its eighth-straight game and improved to 18-3 on the season with a 66-55 victory over visiting Humboldt State on Saturday evening inside RIMAC Arena. The Tritons' remain tied atop the CCAA standings with Cal State Bakersfield as both teams possess a 14-2 league record. Humboldt State falls to 14-7 overall and 9-7 in conference play.
Senior Leora Juster led the Tritons with game-highs in both points and rebounds, netting an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jillian Ricks added 13 points while Hillary Hansen chipped in with 11. Michelle Osier added nine points and eight boards in the win.
Mia Spasowsky led Humboldt State with her 14 points and seven rebounds. Katie Wilder was the only other HSU player to score in double figures, adding 10 points to go along with five assists.
The Tritons jumped out to an early 13-0 lead through the first seven and a half minutes and extended that advantage out to 20-6 midway through the first stanza. The Lumberjacks, however, outscored UCSD by an 18-6 advantage to pull within two points at intermission.
Both teams went on spurts early in the second half as HSU took a 35-34 lead with 12:45 to go before the Tritons used a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to gain a lead that would not be relinquished. UCSD led by as many as 13 points before settling on the 11-point margin of victory.
As a team the Tritons out-rebounded HSU by a 42-26 margin and held an 18-8 advantage in made free throws.
Head coach Janell Jones' squad continues its current four-game homestand next weekend, hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Friday night and Cal State L.A. on Saturday evening. Both games are slated for 5:30 p.m. starts.
