TUCSON, Ariz.—UC San Diego women's basketball fell to Arizona, 81-38, on Thursday evening in the McKale Center. It was the first ever meeting for the Tritons (3-6) and the Wildcats (7-2).
 
Denali Pinto led the Tritons with 14 points, while Sumayah Sugapong finished in double-figures as well with 12. Katie Springs finished with a team-high seven rebounds and Parker Montgomery added five. Montgomery, Pinto and Springs all collected two steals, and Montgomery also led the team with three assists. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons were tough on defense to start the opening quarter, forcing three early turnovers by the Wildcats. Arizona used a six-point scoring run to build an 8-3 with 3:26 on the clock. The teams traded buckets to close out the quarter and the Wildcats took a 12-7 lead into the first quarter break.
 
Pinto made three free throws in the opening minutes of the second period to cut the deficit to two, 12-10. Arizona then went on an 18-3 scoring run build a comfortable lead and closed out half with nine unanswered points to lead, 42-17, at the halftime break. The Tritons were outscored 30-10 in the period.
 
The Wildcats extended their scoring run to begin the second half with a 6-0 run. With Arizona leading 53-21 midway through the quarter, the Tritons put together a six-point run of their own to make it, 53-27. UC San Diego held Arizona to three points in the final three minutes but still trailed 56-29 heading into the final quarter break. 
 
The Wildcats put up five of their 10 threes in the final quarter of play, outscoring the Tritons 25-9 to close out the contest, 81-38.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Denali Pinto and Sumayah Sugapong scored in double-figures for the Tritons.
• Arizona held the advantage in all statistical categories including points in the paint (30-16), points off turnovers (38-12) and bench points (39-4).
• UC San Diego starters were Izzy Forsyth, Parker Montgomery, Denali Pinto, Rosa Smith, and Sumayah Sugapong.

UP NEXT 
The Tritons will take a week off for finals at UC San Diego before traveling for a pair of neutral contests at the USD Winter Classic. UC San Diego will face Boise State (Dec. 20) and Montana (Dec. 21) in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego's campus. Streaming information may be available at a later date. Live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
 
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 began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West 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 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned 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.