LA JOLLA, Calif. - Chelsea Carlisle led all scorers with 22 points and
Tiffany Hunter and
Annette Ilg recorded double-doubles to lead the 11th-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team to a 96-73 victory over visiting Cal State East Bay on Tuesday night at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons shot better than 50% from the field and finished with their highest scoring output of the season to take care of the last place Pioneers.
Four players reached double figures and a total of 10 players scored, as UCSD improved to 21-2 overall and 16-2 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play with four regular season games remaining. The Tritons, who bounced back after suffering their second loss of 2009-10 at Chico State on Saturday, remained perfect on their home floor at 13-0.
Cal State East Bay, which is in its first season as a member of the CCAA, falls to 1-22 overall and 1-17 in conference. The Pioneers have lost four straight since defeating Cal State L.A. on February 4 for their only victory of the season.
The Tritons dropped 32-of-62 shots from the floor, including 15-of-27 -- 56% -- in the second half, to eclipse their previous of high of 89 points that came in a win over Western Washington in December.
Carlisle went 9-of-15 from the field and drained three triples to lead the attack, scoring above 20 for the first time in six games. The CCAA's leading scorer also finished with three rebounds and five assists.
Hunter scored 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting to go with 10 points in just 21 minutes. Ilg finished with 13 points, 11 boards, four assists and four steals, while Daisy Feder scored 10 points off the bench.
Claudia Nelson finished with 22 points for the Pioneers, who shot just under 48% for the game. She hit 9-of-18 from the field and added four rebounds and two assists. Andrea Rodriguez chipped in with 17 points, while Marlene MacMillan finished with nine points and seven boards.
Leading 15-14 six minutes into the opening half, the Tritons outscored the Pioneers 15-5 over the next seven minutes to take a 30-19 advantage. CSUEB closed to within 30-23 on a layup by MacMillan with six minutes remaining, but Ilg and Carlisle combined to score the next eight points to give UCSD a 15-point cushion at 38-23.
The Tritons' lead swelled to 18 at 47-29 following a Carlisle layup with 1:17 left and three straight free throws from Ilg and Lauren Freidenberg made it 50-29 heading into the locker room.
UCSD led by as many as 25 (54-29) early in the second half, before East Bay was able to trim the deficit to just 10 at 67-57 with 11 minutes remaining.
Hunter answered with a layup on the other end and Erin Noonan followed with a three to put the Tritons back in front by 15. UCSD would push the advantage to 88-67 on a bucket by Emily Osga with three and a half minutes left and lead by 23 at the final horn.
UCSD will now hit the road to take on San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay this weekend. The Tritons will square off with the Gators on Friday, before meeting the Otters on Saturday.
