LOS ANGELES - After a 39-39 stalemate in the early fourth quarter, the 25th-ranked UC San Diego women's basketball team outscored Cal State L.A. 26-16 the rest of the way for a 65-55 win in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play Saturday at The Eagles Nest.
With the win the Tritons improve to 12-2 overall and 7-1 in conference games. The Golden Eagles drop to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in the CCAA.
UCSD was led by junior guard Beth Mounier and senior forward Farrah Shokoor who each had 12 points. Senior guard Jamie Katuna pitched in 11 points. Sophomore guard Taylor Tanita provided a game-high seven assists.
Bree Parsons paced CSULA with a game-best 16 points.
The Golden Eagles grabbed an 11-9 advantage after a Parsons three-pointer to start the game. The Tritons ended the opening quarter on an 8-1 run, capped off by a Katuna jumper, to take a 17-12 lead.
UCSD increased its lead to 12 points, 30-18, in the second period after freshman guard Joleen Yang found sophomore guard Paige Song underneath the basket for a layup. CSULA scored five unanswered points before the intermission to close the margin to seven, 30-23.
The Tritons struggled offensively in the third quarter, as they were limited to only nine points. The Golden Eagles started the period with six straight points to close within one, 30-29. UCSD answered with a Tanita trey to bring the lead back to four.
In the closing moments of the third frame, CSULA's Franeka Hall put back a missed shot attempt before the sound of the buzzer. The Tritons took a 39-37 advantage into the final quarter.
After drawing a foul, Hall hit two from the charity stripe for the Golden Eagles to even the game, 39-39, with 9:47 left to play. UCSD built a quick 10-point cushion, 49-39, from there after two three-pointers from Mounier, a layup from Shokoor and a jumper from junior guard Haley Anderson.
The Tritons grabbed their biggest lead of the game, 63-49, after Tanita found Shokoor cutting with a minute remaining in the contest. CSULA hit two long-range shots in the final minute, but UCSD prevailed in the end.
The Tritons will stay on the road for their next matchup against conference-leading Cal State East Bay on Friday, Jan. 15, Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
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