LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 13th-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team closed the first half on a 15-2 run that ultimately proved to be the difference in a 51-47 triumph over visiting San Francisco State Firday night at RIMAC Arena.
Michelle Osier finished with game-highs of 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Tritons to their 16th victory in their last 17 games.
While it wasn't easy, UCSD responded with a hard-fought win, bouncing back after suffering its first loss in conference play last week. The Tritons improved to 23-3 overall and 16-1 in the CCAA and can now wrap up the top seed in the conference tournament in two weeks with a win over Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday.
San Francisco State falls to 12-13 overall and 6-12 in the CCAA after falling for the third time in the last four games.
After a pair of free throws from Krystle Mays gave SFSU a 13-11 lead, Osier and
Alexis Gaskin combined to score eight straight points as UCSD began to find it's rhythm. Ashlee Austin-Bean's layup cut the deficit to just four with 5:22 remaining in the half, but the Tritons scored the final seven points of the period -- including a
Chelsea Carlisle triple with six seconds left -- to take a 26-15 lead at the break.
Annette Ilg scored on UCSD's first possession of the second half and Gaskin followed with back-to-back baskets, giving the Tritons their biggest lead of the evening, 32-15 with 16:01 left to play.
But the Gators were not done fighting as Donisha Tate's basket at the 14:40 mark ended a scoring drought of nearly 11 minutes for SFSU spanning both halves. Desiree Butler followed with a triple to ignite a 24-5 Gator run over the next 10 minutes as San Francisco State closed to within 41-37 with 3:56 to play.
The Tritons and Gators traded baskets for three minutes until Butler scored in the paint and ZaLisha Oliver grabbed an offensive rebound and finished to cut the UCSD lead to just two, 49-47 with seven seconds left.
Carlisle was fouled on the ensuing possession, however and converted both free throws to seal the victory for the Tritons and send the boisterous Spirit Night crowd of 1,598 home happy.
UCSD held on for the win despite shooting just 35% after halftime and losing the second stanza, 32-25. The Tritons finished at 39% (18-46) overall, while Gators shot at a 36.5% (19-52) clip.
Osier finished 6-of-15 from the field and scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half. In addition to recording her third consecutive double-double, she tallied four assists and four steals.
Gaskin scored 12 points and grabbed six boards, while Carlisle finished with 10 points, five assists, and three steals.
Dominique Hunter hit all four of her shots and finished with 10 points to lead the Gators, while Jessica Hout-Freeman scored all 10 of her points in the second half.
The Tritons will host the Otters in their final home game of the regular season Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
