LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball team outlasted a ferocious fourth quarter comeback from Chico State to capture a 58-55 victory Thursday in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at RIMAC Arena.
UCSD improved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in conference action. The Wildcats dropped to 5-2 and 0-1.
The Tritons shot 36.2 percent (21-58) from the field, while limiting Chico to 30.2 percent (16-53). From behind the three-point arc, UCSD shot 35.7 percent (10-28) and kept Chico to only 19 percent (4-21) from long range. UC San Diego was able to tap into its depth and outscored Chico 20-10 in bench points.
Sophomore guard Marcella Hughes shot 71.4 percent (5-7) from three-point range to score a team-high 15 points. Senior forward Cassie MacLeod contributed 11 points and secured her first double-double of the year thanks to a career-best 17 rebounds. Senior guard Beth Mounier and junior forward Dalayna Sampton both chipped in with 11 points.
Chico State was paced by Whitney Branham and Jo Paine, with 20 and 16 points, respectively.
UCSD ended the first quarter with a one point advantage, leading Chico 16-15 thanks to a 50 percent (3-6) shooting performance from behind the arc.
In the second period, the Tritons piled on four more three-pointers, with two each from Mounier and Hughes, to secure a 33-29 lead going into the second half. A last minute three-point play by Branham kept the Wildcats within striking range.
A defensive upstart and aggressive offense in the third by UC San Diego kept Chico to only two made field goals and a 14.3 shooting percentage. UCSD added two more three-pointers and ended the quarter with a 49-38 advantage.
Chico mounted a determined comeback in the fourth, limiting the Tritons to only 27.3 percent in shooting, while shooting 41.7 percent themselves. The score difference was as close as one point twice in the frame, but UCSD never lost the lead and finished with a three-point buffer.
UC San Diego takes on CCAA rival Cal State San Bernardino at RIMAC Arena on Friday, Dec. 16, after a two-week hiatus from competition.
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