ROHNERT PARK, Calif. ? Chelsea Carlisle hit a jumper with six seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and No. 17 UC San Diego outscored Sonoma State 19-10 in the exta session on the way to a 78-69 conference victory Friday night at Seawolf Gymnasium. Carlisle scored a career-high 23 points to lead four Tritons in double figures in the victory.
The win was UCSD's 11th in a row overall and seventh straight on the road. The first place Tritons improve to 18-2 this season and 11-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association after sweeping the season series from the Seawolves. Head coach
Charity Elliott's squad has now won 17 of its last 19 games in conference play.
Sonoma State falls to 8-11 overall and 4-8 in the CCAA.
The Tritons tailed by as many as eight points in the second half before Carlisle converted a layup to give UCSD a 51-50 lead with 5:07 remaining in regulation. The Tritons and Seawolves traded baskets for the next four minutes until Sonoma's Jennifer Russon drilled a three-pointer that put the home team in front, 59-57 with 31 seconds left in the period.
Michelle Osier's jumper on the next possesion missed the mark and Marie Sweet came away with the loose ball for the Seawolves. Olivia Larkin missed the front end of a one-and-one however, and Osier grabbed the rebound with 17 seconds left, giving the Tritons one last chance.
After a timeout, Carlisle calmly knocked down a jumper from the right side, tying the game at 59-59 and Larkin's three-pointer fell short, sending the game to overtime.
Annette Ilg opened the scoring in the extra period with a triple and then hit jumper to give the Tritons a 64-59 advantage. UCSD would score the first nine points in overtime to take its biggest lead of the game before Sonoma closed to within 72-67 with 26 seconds left to play.
Carlisle and Ilg combined to knock down six consecutive free throws from that point, closing out the victory for the Tritons.
Making her first-career start in place of the injured
Erin Noonan, Carlisle finished 4-of-10 from the field and was a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line. The freshman guard dished out a game-high four assists and hauled in three rebounds. She has now reached double figures in each of the last five games.
Ilg converted 5-of-7 shots from the floor, including 3-of-4 from behind the three-point arc and finished with 15 points, which tied her high mark for the season.
Leilani Martin scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while
Kristen Cabral chipped in with 14, six boards, and two steals off the bench.
Osier finished with just five points on 1-of-9 shooting, but she grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds.
After shooting just 27% in the first half, UCSD hit 11-of-23 shots in the second period, 48%, and converted all four of its attempts in overtime. The Tritons were 29-of-34 from the free throw line, 85%, including 9-of-10 in the extra session.
Friday's contest marked UCSD's first overtime game of the season.
The Tritons will look for their 12th consecutive victory Saturday night at Humboldt State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.