IRVINE, Calif.—UC San Diego women's basketball fell to UC Irvine, 73-66, on Saturday afternoon in Bren Events Center. The Tritons (6-11, 2-3 Big West) shot a season-high 13 three-pointers but came up short to the Anteaters (10-5, 4-1 Big West).
 
Four Tritons scored in double-figures, led by Sabrina Ma with 17 points—including five threes—and Gracie Gallegos with 13. Sumayah Sugapong and Parker Montgomery added 11 and 10 points respectively. Kayanna Spriggs collected a game-high 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards, and led the team with five assists. Gallegos was second on the team in both rebounds (5) and assists (4), while Sugapong led the defensive effort with two steals. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Montgomery hit a three to open the contest, UC Irvine went on a six-point scoring run to take the early lead. The Tritons responded with a six-point run of their own—capped by a Ma three—to retake the lead, 9-6. The Anteaters put together a 9-2 scoring run in the back half of the opening period—with seven of their points coming at the free throw line—to jump back in front, 15-11. Gallegos knocked down a three in the final four seconds to pull UC San Diego within one, 15-14, at the first quarter break.
 
Another three by Ma quickly tied the contest at 17-all in the opening minute of the second quarter. The basket sparked an 11-3 run by the Tritons to pull in front, 25-20, with three minutes on the clock. UC Irvine closed out the half with a seven-point run before Montgomery's jumper tied the game at 27-27 in the final 10 seconds.
 
UC Irvine carried the momentum into the second half, beginning the third quarter on a 6-0 run to lead, 33-27. Ma ended the scoring run with a three with 7:32 on the clock. The teams traded baskets before a 10-3 run by the Tritons tied the game once again, 43-43. The game remained knotted down to the wire before UCI took a 51-50 advantage into the final quarter break.
 
The Anteaters opened the fourth period with back-to-back scores to create distance, 55-50. Timely threes by Junaé Mahan, Montgomery and Gallegos kept the Tritons within four points, 63-59, with three minutes to play. Sugapong hit another three to make it a one-score game, 67-64, with 1:34 remaining in regulation but the Tritons unable to pull closer, ultimately falling, 73-66.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego recorded a season-high 13 three-pointers in the contest.
• The Tritons are now 2-13 in the all-time series (2-7 in D-I) with UC Irvine.
• UC San Diego starters were Sumayah Sugapong, Sabrina Ma, Gracie Gallegos, Kayanna Spriggs and Parker Montgomery.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will return to LionTree Arena for a two-game homestand, playing host to Long Beach State on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. and UC Riverside on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. The games 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.