NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—UC San Diego women's basketball defeated CSUN, 60-48, on Thursday evening in Premier America Credit Union Arena. The Tritons (11-5, 6-0 Big West) scored 27 points off turnovers to top the Matadors (6-10, 2-5 Big West) and remain unbeaten in Big West play.
 
Sabrina Ma recorded her UC San Diego career high with 23 points, including 5-of-9 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Erin Condron tallied her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds while also recording a career-best three blocks. Dymonique Maxie and Makayla Rose led the Tritons' defensive efforts with six steals apiece, adding nine and eight points respectively. Maxie led the team with three assists, while Rose and Rosa Smith chipped in two.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ma opened the contest with a quick three and after an early jumper by the Matadors, UC San Diego locked down its defense. The Tritons put together a nine-point scoring run and held CSUN scoreless to the 1:05 mark, building a 12-2 advantage. Condron put up a shot in the paint in the final minute and UC San Diego took a 14-5 lead into the first quarter break.
 
CSUN found some momentum to open the second period, scoring nine unanswered to pull even with UC San Diego, 14-14. The teams traded shots to a 20-19 advantage for the Tritons before both teams went cold from the floor in the final three minutes. The Matadors knocked down four free throws in the final 30 seconds to take a 23-20 lead into halftime. CSUN outscored UC San Diego in the period, 18-6, to pull in front at the break.
 
The Tritons came out of the intermission with renewed energy, scoring the first 15 points unanswered to pull back in front, 35-23. The scoring run was highlighted by 4-for-4 from the free throw line, two steals and five points by Smith. CSUN finally got on the board with under three minutes on the clock, putting together a string of five points to make it 35-28. The teams continued to battle down the stretch and UC San Diego took a 39-31 lead into the final quarter break. 
 
Back-to-back threes from the Matadors opened the final period, cutting the lead to two, 39-37. The Tritons responded with seven quick points to create distance once again. A pair of timely threes from Ma and a free throw by Condron gave UC San Diego a 50-40 advantage. CSUN responded with a 6-2 scoring run to close the gap, 52-46, with just over three minutes remaining. Condron scored a layup to spark a streak of eight points for the visitors down the stretch and the Tritons held on for the 60-48 victory.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Sabrina Ma tallied her Triton career high with 23 points, her fourth 20-point effort of the season. 
• Erin Condron recorded her fifth double-double and matched her career high in blocks (3).
• UC San Diego held the advantage in points off turnovers (27-19), second chance points (14-6), points in the paint (28-16), fast break points (19-5) and steals (14-11). CSUN had the edge in bench points (18-2) and rebounds (39-38).
• The Tritons are now 6-3 in the all-time series and 6-2 in D-I against CSUN. 
• UC San Diego starters were Erin Condron, Sabrina Ma, Dymonique Maxie, Makayla Rose and Rosa Smith.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will play host to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at 4 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.