LA JOLLA, Calif. - Senior forward
Cassie MacLeod scored a career-high 30 points Friday to lead the University of California San Diego women's basketball team over California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponent Cal Poly Pomona, 80-67.
With only two regular-season games remaining, UC San Diego sits in first place in the CCAA standings with a 15-3 record, one and a half games ahead of Cal State East Bay (16-8, 13-4). UCSD is 19-5 overall. The win guaranteed the Tritons a home CCAA Tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Cal Poly Pomona falls to 13-10 overall and 11-6 in the CCAA.
MacLeod's 30 points also marked a season high for the Tritons. She shot 11-for-16 (.688) overall and collected three rebounds and a block. Classmate Beth Mounier tallied a game-high five steals while totaling 15 points and going 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Mikayla Williams and Dalayna Sampton each grabbed seven rebounds.
As a team, UCSD shot 5.3 percent overall (27-48) while holding the visitors to 45.6 percent (26-57).
The Tritons made four three-pointers in the first frame to gain a lead they would not relinquish. UCSD opened up the game with a six-point run and led by as much as 13 in the quarter. The Broncos scored seven points in the final two minutes to cut theTriton lead to 24-15.
The UCSD defense held the Broncos to just nine points in the second quarter. The Tritons scored six unanswered points with four minutes remaining in the frame and carried the momentum into halftime with a 38-24 lead.
The Broncos outscored the hosts 43-42 in the second half but it wasn't enough as the Tritons earned the 13-point victory. MacLeod made three three-pointers in the fourth frame as UCSD gained its largest lead of the game, 65-45, with 5:41 showing on the clock.
Jackie Ricketson led the Broncos with 19 points and five rebounds. Priscilla Brooks and Erin Hagan tallied 14 and 11 points, respectively.
UCSD will play its final home regular season game against CCAA rival Humboldt State on Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m., after a ceremony recognizing MacLeod, Mounier, Haley Anderson and Janae Peterson on Senior Night at RIMAC Arena.
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