Statement Games

Junior forward Erin Dautremont figured on both ends of the court late in the overtime period to secure the win for UCSD against Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Feb. 9. Dautremont made one of two free throws, giving the Tritons a tenuous two-point lead with the Broncos on a breakaway. Racing down the court for what proved to be the last possession of the game, senior guard Megan Perry and Dautremont came up with a big block to deny Pomona’s Ashley Boggs the tying bucket.

Dautremont recorded her fourth double-double of the season in UCSD’s seventh straight win against Pomona. The junior recorded 11 points on top of 10 rebounds, while senior guard Daisy Feder recorded 14 points to go along with senior guard Emily Osga’s 16 points. When asked about her success as of late, Dautremont responded that the strength of the team has really bolstered her performance.

“We’ve just been playing together as a team and moving the ball around,” Dautremont said. “And my teammates find me in open places, and I’ve been able to knock down those shots.”

Pomona is one of only three conference opponents to have taken a win from the Tritons this season, beating UCSD 68–63 back in January.

If nothing else, Saturday’s win proves how far the Tritons have come in the past two months since the beginning of the season. After starting the season with a 2–6 CCAA record and a new coaching staff in place, the Tritons have since climbed to No. 2 in the conference, with a 13–3 record.

“It was a rough start — we definitely have improved a lot since then, since especially those first five games were rocky — but we have really settled in and found our groove, and now we’re just rolling,” Dautremont said.

On Friday, for Spirit Night, Feder tallied a career-high 29 points en route to a 78–66 win. The fifth-year senior knocked down five threepointers, went 10-for-18 from the field and notched seven rebounds. Dautremont had another solid night, picking up 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

“I think [Dautremont’s] being very aggressive, getting great shots, and [is] really a good compliment to the whole team.”

UCSD now has six games remaining in the regular season, and is positioned for the second-seed in the eight-team CCAA tournament, March 5 to March 9. The Tritons sit two games behind first-place Chico State and one game in front of thirdplace Cal State Monterey Bay.

When asked about what the Tritons need to do to continue their success into the postseason, UCSD head coach Heidi VanDerveer said that it will come down to more hard work.

“I think obviously, we always emphasize rebounding,” VanDerveer said. “We’re not a great rebounding team. I think tonight, our defense broke down a little bit; we’ll have to look at some of those things. But I think [it’s] just getting better at those things, getting better, playing together.”

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