SEASIDE, Calif. – The No. 18 University of California San Diego women's basketball team cruised to a 73-41 victory at Cal State Monterey Bay this afternoon, capturing at least a share of its fifth-straight regular season California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title. The CCAA regular season crown is also the Tritons' 10
th in program history.
Next Saturday's contest between the Tritons and Cal State San Marcos will determine whether the Tritons have sole possession of the regular season conference crown or whether they will share with the Cougars.
With today's win, UC San Diego improves to 22-4 on the season and 18-3 in CCAA action. The Otters fall to 6-16 overall and 6-14 in league play.
It was all UC San Diego from the start of today's contest, as the Tritons did not allow the Otters to lead during the entire game. The Tritons jumped out to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and dominated in the second quarter, putting up 20 points while holding the Otters to just five.
It was more of the same from the Tritons in the third and fourth quarters, as they outscored the Otters every period to secure the 73-41 victory.
As a team, the Tritons shot 51% (29-57), while the Otters shot just 23% (14-60). UC San Diego outrebounded the Otters, 44-36, on the afternoon.
Julia Macabuhay led the way with a game-best 22 points, shooting 60% (9-15). This was the 11
th time that Macabuhay has eclipsed the 20-point mark this season.
Sydney Sharp followed with 15 points. Sharp was hot from long range, nailing four of her six shots from beyond the arc. The North Tustin native also collected six boards.
Isabelle Parker rounded out the Tritons' double-figure scorers. Parker was critical in helping the Tritons get off to a strong start, scoring six of their first 11 points. She finished the afternoon with 10 points and seven rebounds.
UC San Diego's bench was also crucial in the win.
Tyla Turner's eight rebounds tied her for the game high.
Stephanie Moore contributed six rebounds, while
Emily Cangelosi chipped in five.
Madison Baxter was one point away from tying her career high as she scored eight points in her 12 minutes on the court.
"I'm very proud of our team's efforts this afternoon," said Head Coach
Heidi VanDerveer. "We came out with a lot of energy and made the most of every possession, both offensively and defensively.
"We got some really great pace from our guards, Julia, Bri, and Ty, and we had excellent defense from Syd Sharp. Issy scored early and we established some post game with her and Layla. Emily, Madison, and Hanna came in off the bench and played hard. Overall, it was truly a team effort. It was a very good win for our team to earn a share of the CCAA regular season title."
Next, the Tritons will conclude their regular season and look for sole possession of the regular season title. UC San Diego will battle crosstown foe Cal State San Marcos on the road at 1 p.m. on Feb. 29.
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country. The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference. UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent. A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.
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