NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—UC San Diego women's basketball defeated CSUN, 53-52, on Thursday evening in Premier America Credit Union Arena. The Tritons (9-12, 5-5 Big West) moved to 3-2 in the all-time series with the Matadors (2-18, 0-10 Big West).
 
Four Tritons scored in double figures, led by Sumayah Sugapong with 12 points including the game-winning free-throw. Izzy Forsyth finished with 11 points, while Denali Pinto and Gracie Gallegos each added 10. Pinto and Gallegos led UC San Diego with nine rebounds apiece—just shy of their first double-doubles in a Triton uniform. Sugapong collected a season-high five assists, while Pinto added four and led the team with two steals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons took an early 4-0 lead in the opening quarter before the Matadors tied the game midway through the period. UC San Diego outscored CSUN, 12-4, in the remaining minutes of the first quarter, holding the Matadors to just 1-of-13 from the field. Six different Tritons put up points in the opening period to lead 16-8 at the break.
 
UC San Diego carried the momentum into the second quarter, putting together an early 8-2 run including a timely three by Gallegos to build the lead to 14. CSUN's offense went cold for most of the second period, hitting its first basket from the field with 1:49 to play in the first half. The Tritons outscored the Matadors 7-3 down the stretch and took a 32-16 lead into the halftime intermission.
 
CSUN scored seven-straight to open the third quarter before the Tritons finally got on the board with a jumper by Eri Blithikioti to make it 34-23. Back-to-back threes by the Matadors cut the lead to six with 2:32 to play. Gallegos responded with a three of her own to stall CSUN's momentum and the Tritons took a 42-34 lead into the final quarter break.
 
CSUN rallied again to open the final period with a 7-2 run to make it a one-score game, 44-41. Forsyth knocked down a pair of free throws and a layup to give the Tritons some space again, 48-41, with 6:54 remaining in the contest. The Matadors scored seven unanswered to pull even for the first time, 48-48. Sugapong hit a jumper to end the UC San Diego drought and the teams traded buckets down the stretch. 
 
With the game tied, 52-52, Sugapong was fouled with 4.5 seconds remaining, making one of her two free throws to give the Tritons the advantage. CSUN got off one final shot in the final second but it bounced off the rim to give the Tritons the victory. 
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Sumayah Sugapong recorded double-figure points for the 17th time this season.
• The Tritons are now 1-2 this season in games decided by three points or fewer.
• UC San Diego starters were Izzy Forsyth, Parker Montgomery, Denali Pinto, Sumayah Sugapong and Emma Svoboda.
• It was the first UC San Diego start for Svoboda.
• The Tritons are now 2-2 in the all-time series with CSUN.

 UP NEXT 
The Tritons will return home to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports before hosting Long Beach State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 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.