LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball team clinched a spot in the conference tournament by limiting Cal State Dominguez Hills to just 32.8 percent (21-64) shooting and defeated the visiting Toros by a score of 68-60 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action Friday at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons shot 44.7 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent (7-19) from behind the arc.
With its fourth consecutive win, UCSD improves to 15-9 overall and 13-6 in the CCAA, while CSUDH falls to 21-6 overall and 16-3 in the conference.
Both squads came out flat offensively as the Tritons only got two baskets, one three-pointer each from Haley Anderson and Beth Mounier, in the first five minutes. Kielyn Wilson would hit two consecutive field goals to put the Toros up, 9-6, with 12:14 remaining in the first half.
UCSD answered back with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes, which included a Cassie MacLeod three-pointer, two Dana Webster layups and a Taylor Tanita successful and-one conversion, to lead the Toros 16-9.
The Tritons nabbed their biggest lead of the half, 24-15, after a Mounier three-point basket. CSUDH answered back with a 7-0 run to close the gap to two.
UCSD led 33-25, after a Farrah Shokoor layup to go into halftime with the eight-point advantage.
The Tritons started the second half conceding a layup to Breanne Garcia, but Anderson countered back with her third successful basket from long range to stretch the margin back to nine.
With 13:21 left to play in the game, Shokoor would get fouled on a made layup and hit the ensuing free throw to give UCSD their biggest lead of the game, 44-28.
CSUDH's Jenee Gooden cut the deficit to single digits, 51-43, after two layups on back-to-back possessions.
The Toros came within six points of the Tritons, 60-54, after Talia Rayford converted an and-one play of her own with 3:52 on the clock.
A McKennan Bertsch layup and six free throw makes would seal the game for UCSD as it came away with the eight-point victory, 68-60.
Shokoor, Anderson, Bertsch and Webster each had 11 points. Shokoor came away with her 13th double-double of the season with her game-high 18 rebounds. Tanita collected six points and a game-best nine assists.
Garcia led the way for CSUDH with 17 points, the only Toro in double figures.
UCSD will host Cal State L.A. on Saturday, Feb. 21 on Senior Night. Six Tritons - Nadja Kern, Emily Morris, Miranda Seto, Stephanie Yano, Bertsch and Webster - will be recognized before tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
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