LA JOLLA, Calif. - All good things come to an end.
The No. 24 University of California San Diego women's basketball team learned that the hard way on Thursday night, falling to Stanislaus State, 82-78, at RIMAC Arena.
It was the first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) loss of the season for the Tritons (15-3, 11-1 CCAA), who also had their 11-game winning streak come to an end. In addition, the loss snaps UC San Diego's seven-game winning streak over Stanislaus State (8-10, 5-7), with the previous loss to the Warriors coming on Feb. 8, 2014.
The Tritons now hold a two-game lead over Cal Poly Pomona for first place in the CCAA standings after playing Thursday night without key reserves junior Marcella Hughes and junior Rebecca Williams.
Sophomore forward Mikayla Williams and junior guard Kayla Sato scored 20 points apiece, while senior forward Dalayna Sampton finished with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. In addition, sophomore guard Sydney Sharp scored 12 points off the bench on 4-of-7 shooting.
The Tritons saw their seven-point halftime lead turn into a three-point deficit by the end of the third quarter, and it was an uphill climb from that point on.
A 3-pointer by Stanislaus State forward Brittney Livingston followed by Kyanna Davis' offensive rebound and bucket made it 56-48, with 8:24 remaining in the game. Sampton responded with a basket inside, and a Williams layup pulled the Tritons within four, 56-52.
Sato's 3-pointer from the top of the key made it a four-point game again, 67-63, with 2:54 remaining. However, a three by Zahria Hendrix followed by a Lizzy Alexander layup pushed the visitors' lead to 71-63 with 2:06 to go.
After entering the game ranked first in the CCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio, the Tritons uncharacteristically committed a season-high 26 turnovers on Thursday night – 19 in the second half alone. UC San Diego entered Thursday committing the third-fewest turnovers (14.4) in CCAA play.
Meanwhile, Stanislaus State recorded 10 steals for the game, right on its average in conference play, which ranks second in the CCAA.
The Tritons took an early 10-6 lead with six minutes left in the first quarter. Stanislaus State responded with a 6-0 run to go ahead by two before Sharp hit three-consecutive 3-pointers to put UC San Diego ahead 23-18 with 1:30 remaining in the first. A bucket by Sampton inside just before the buzzer gave UCSD a 27-20 lead after the first quarter.
UC San Diego took a seven-point lead into halftime after a long pass by senior Taylor Tanita to Williams for a bucket while fouled made it 36-32 with 2:50 left in the first half. Another Williams bucket inside off another Tanita assist made it 39-32 at intermission.
Up next, the Tritons play host to Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday, Jan. 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
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