Triton veterans Lauren Freidenberg and Chelsea Carlisle led UCSD to its fifth straight win of the season. Senior forward Freidenberg scored 14 points for the Tritons, while also picking up eight rebounds for them. Senior guard Carlisle finished with 10 points and eight assists. However, UCSD’s reserves also had a big hand in the win. Sophomore guard Megan Perry scored nine points coming off the bench, and freshman guard Natalie Luzar —one of six newcomers on the Triton roster — contributed eight points in her seven minutes on the court.

The Tritons trailed at the beginning of the first half, as San Marcos’ Gabriell Munsch came out hot, scoring eight of the Cougars’ first 12 points.

Down 8-12 at the 13-minute mark, the Tritons brought on sophomore guards Nicole Anderson-Jew and Perry. The two produced immediately, with Anderson-Jew recording an assist for a Carlisle three-pointer and Perry dishing to Freidenberg for a layup that put the Tritons in front in the next possession.

UCSD never relinquished the lead from there, as points in the paint from Freidenberg propelled the Tritons to a 17-point lead at the end of the half.

UCSD vs. Fort Lewis

UCSD — ranked No. 8 nationally — faced No. 4 Fort Lewis in the last day of the tournament, shooting an outstanding 61.5 percent in the second half to upset Fort Lewis 80-65.

Senior All-American Carlisle led all-scorers with a season high of 29 points.

The guard, who was named the tournament MVP, also chipped in eight rebounds.

The lead changed hands six times in the opening half, as the game was tight between the two nationally ranked squads. UCSD barely finished the half on top of Fort Lewis, shooting a paltry 32.3 percent.

“We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well early on, but we kept fighting and we really found our stride in the second half,” head coach Charity Elliot said to athletics department officials. “I thought [Chelsea Carlisle] was outstanding tonight and she was really the spark for us.”
UCSD extended the lead in the second half as the Triton sharpshooters — Carlisle, Feder and junior guard Emily Osga caught fire — collectively recording 36 of UCSD’s 46 points in the second period.

For their performance throughout the tournament, three Tritons were named to the All-Tournament team: Freidenberg, Osga and Carlisle — who was also named the tournament MVP.