LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego women's basketball team captured its first Division I victory with a 74-63 win over Cal Poly at RIMAC Arena this afternoon. With the historic win, UC San Diego improves to 1-1 on the season – as well as conference play – while Cal Poly moves to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in Big West action.
Although the Mustangs jumped out to an early lead to start the game, the Tritons' efforts late in the first quarter shifted the momentum. In the final four minutes of the opening quarter, the Tritons outscored the Mustangs 9-2, led by
Sydney Brown's six points in that stretch. UC San Diego secured a 15-12 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes as they paired their offensive efforts with strong defense. The Tritons did not allow the Mustangs to score from behind the arc (0-7) and held them to 12 points.
In the second quarter, it was more of the same as the Tritons only allowed 11 points from the Mustangs. The squad was especially successful defending Mustang standout Abbey Ellis, who was 0-7 in field goal attempts during the first 20 minutes. Throughout the second quarter, UC San Diego never surrendered its lead, and the team extended their advantage to double digits with a score of 36-23 at halftime.
Following halftime, the Tritons shot 50% (7-14) as they put up 20 points in the third quarter. However, the Mustangs turned up the heat. Despite another quarter without a three-point basket (0-3), Cal Poly put up 22 points, half of which came off free throws.
Brown led the charge as the Tritons' looked to lock in their first Division I win in the final quarter. She went off for 13 points in the final 10 minutes to finish the afternoon with 31 points and 14 rebounds.
QUOTABLE
TRITON TIDBITS
- Brown had a career day, racking up 31 points and 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Both marks were career highs for Brown as well as game bests.
- Brown's 31 points are the most by a Triton since Mikayla Williams' 36 points against Hawai'i Pacific (Nov. 10, 2018).
- UC San Diego held Cal Poly to shooting just 13% (3-23) from beyond the arc.
- Triton senior Layla Ybarra-Harvey made her first career start in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Tritons were initially scheduled to face CSUN on Jan. 8-9, but the team opted out of the 2020-21 season. Because of that, UC San Diego will return to action on Jan. 15-16, hosting UC Santa Barbara at RIMAC Arena at 5 p.m. both days. Catch the action on ESPN3.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful?programs in?NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as?a?member?of the Big West Conference in?
NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in?Divisions?II?and III and helped guide?1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.?For more information on the Tritons, visit?UCSDtritons.com?
or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media?@UCSDtritons.
