AZUSA, Calif. - After losing to Cal State East Bay in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament semifinals exactly a week ago, the 21st-ranked and fourth-seeded UC San Diego women's basketball team had a different result this time around with a 74-59 victory over the fifth-seeded Pioneers in the NCAA West Regional quarterfinal, Friday at Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific.
With the win, the Tritons improve their record to 25-4. CSUEB ends its season at 27-5.
Senior forward Farrah Shokoor led UCSD by recording her 18th double-double of the year with 17 points and 14 rebounds, both game-highs. Shokoor also had three blocks in the contest. Three other Tritons put up double figures as junior forward Cassie MacLeod, senior guard Jamie Katuna and freshman guard Joleen Yang scored 16, 15 and 11 points, respectively. Katuna and sophomore guard Taylor Tanita each dished out four assists.
Four Pioneers scored in double figures as well with Tori Breshers, Madison Craig, Shannon Bland and Laci Effenberger each pitching in 16, 14, 10 and 10 points, respectively. Bland had a game-high five assists and three steals.
As a team, UCSD shot 46.3 percent (25-54) from the field and limited CSUEB to 41.7 percent (25-60) shooting, including 23.5 percent (4-17) from behind the arc. The Tritons shot 80 percent (20-25) from the charity stripe and had 15 more free throw attempts than the Pioneers, who shot 50 percent (5-10) from the line. UCSD won the rebounding battle 35-29.
CSUEB got a hot start and grabbed its biggest lead of the game, 11-4, to start. The Tritons then went on a 12-1 run, with eight points coming from Yang on two three-pointers and a fast break layup, to lead 16-12 after the first quarter.
Katuna and Shokoor took over and combined for 11 of UCSD's 17 points in the second period as the Tritons went into halftime with a 33-26 advantage.
UCSD started the second half going on a 7-1 run and poured in 23 points in the third frame, with eight of those points coming from the free throw line. The Tritons grabbed a 14-point lead, 56-42, going into the final quarter.
UCSD kept increasing the margin and led by as much as 20, three different times, in the fourth period. Junior guard Haley Anderson's jumper gave the Tritons a 73-53 advantage with 1:40 remaining.
UCSD will play first-seeded and the hosts of the West Regional Azusa Pacific on Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinal round. The Tritons defeated the Cougars 76-71 in November at the UCSD Thanksgiving Classic.
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