SEASIDE, Calif. ?
The 25th-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team continued its
impressive start to California Collegiate Athletic Association play,
winning its seventh consecutive league game with a 69-58 defeat of Cal
State Monterey Bay Friday night at the Otter Sports Complex. The
Tritons limited the Otters to just nine field goals and 39% shooting in
the second half as their winning streak reached a season-best seven
games.
UCSD improves to 14-2 overall with the win and
maintained its grip on first place in the CCAA standings at 7-0 in
conference play. CSUMB drops to 8-6 overall and 3-5 in the CCAA after
losing its second game in as many nights. The Otters lost a 62-53
decision to San Francisco State on Thursday.
Senior center
Alexis Gaskin made seven of her
eight shots from the field for 14 points to lead four Tritons in double
figures. She also finished with a game-high nine rebounds, which tied
her high for the season.
Annette Ilg also shot the ball well, finishing
5-of-7 from the floor for 12 points. She also had five assists.
Chelsea Carlisle scored 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting off the bench.
Three-time All-CCAA First Team selection Michelle
Osier scored 11 points and finished with six boards. The senior forward
entered Friday's game 13 rebounds shy of becoming UCSD's all-time
career leader and now needs just seven to pass Mary Egan's (1978-82)
career mark of 1,038.
UCSD shot 47.5% from the field, hitting 28-of-59
shots for the game. The Tritons hit 15-of-31 shots in the opening half
to take a 37-31 lead at intermission.
While the offense was clicking most of the
evening it was UCSD's defense that proved to be the difference in the
end, as the Tritons put the clamps down in the second half. After the
Otters shot 48% in the first period, UCSD held them to jut 9-of-29
shooting, 31% in the second.
Leading 39-35 with 17:28 remaining, the Tritons
outscored the Otters 21-4 over the next seven minutes to build a
commanding 60-39 advantage, their largest of the evening. Gaskin, Ilg,
and Carlisle combined to score 15 of the 21 points during the run as
UCSD put the game out of reach.
The home team made a run and closed to within
nine on two free throws from Helen Suarez with 1:45 to play, but it was
too little too late as CSUMB missed its final three shots and UCSD held
on for the 11-point victory.
Suarez had game-highs of 22 points and seven assists to lead the Otters, while Dana Andrews added 12.
The Tritons will wrap up their four game road trip Saturday at San Francisco State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
