LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 21st-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team closed the first half on an 19-10 run and never looked back, defeating visiting Cal State Stanislaus 73-62 in a conference matchup Friday night at RIMAC Arena. Senior forward
Michelle Osier scored 20 of her game-high 26 points in the opening half as the Tritons cruised their ninth consecutive victory.
UCSD, which has not lost since December 19, improved to 16-2 overall and 9-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, winning for the 15th time in the last 17 games against league opponents spanning the last two seasons.
Cal State Stanislaus falls to 8-9 overall and 3-7 in the CCAA with the loss.
Osier finished with a season-high 26 points, dazzling the home crowd after she was honored prior to the game for setting the UCSD all-time career rebounding mark last week. The three-time All-CCAA First Team selection finished 7-of-14 from the field and 12-of-16 at the free throw line. She also had seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Her previous high this season was 24 points that came at Cal Poly Pomona on January 10.
Freshman
Chelsea Carlisle reached double figures for the third straight game, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the three-point line, while senior center
Alexis Gaskin added 10 points and five rebounds.
Erin Noonan had a solid all-around game for the Tritons, tallying eight points, eight rebounds, and a game-high six assists.
After Christin Gowan scored inside to bring the Warriors within three at 20-17, the Tritons made their move, outscoring Stanislaus 18-6 over the next 5:46 to take a 38-23 advantage with two minutes remaining in the half. Osier was the catalyst, scoring 10 points during the run, including six straight at the foul line.
UCSD led 39-27 at the break, finishing 12-of-29 from the field, 41.4%. The Tritons forced the Warriors into 10 first-half turnovers, leading to 11 points and shot 12 more free throws than CSUS.
The Tritons picked up right where they left off in the second half, extending their advantage to 16 points (52-36) following an Osier jumper with 13:53 remaining. Stanislaus closed to within eight at 56-48 after a layup by Rebecca Arent four minutes later, but Osier knocked down a pair at the line and Carlisle drilled a triple to push the lead back to 13.
UCSD led by as many as 19 after Noonan's basket with 4:21 left to play before settling for the final 73-62 margin.
The Tritons shot 39% (23-59) for the game and finished 50% from behind the arc, hitting 5-of-10 shots. UCSD recorded a season-best 22 assists on their 23 made baskets.
Gowan scored 13 points to lead the Warriors, while Gwendolyn Page finished with 12, and Lysandra Williams chipped in with 11.
The Tritons will go for their 10th consecutive conference win Saturday when defending CCAA champion Chico State comes to town. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
