The UCSD women’s basketball team played tag with Grand Canyon University last week, hosting the Antelopes at RIMAC Arena on Wednesday night, then following GCU to Phoenix to face off again Saturday night.
On Wednesday, the Tritons prevailed over Grand Canyon in a low-scoring battle, 51-40.
UCSD shot only 30.5 percent from the field, but was able to contain the winless ‘Lopes to a stingy 27.5 shooting percentage en route to the win.
The Tritons never trailed in the game, and by the end of the first half had built a 25-20 lead. UCSD was led by California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week Ali Ginn, who contributed 11 points to the victory and posted six rebounds and three steals. Freshman teammate Margaret Johnson was the only other Triton to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Grand Canyon’s Elizabeth Watson led all scorers with 13 points on 4-12 shooting, while the Antelopes also received 11 points off the bench from Florinda Curley in the loss.
Three days later, the two teams squared off again, this time at Antelope Gym in Arizona. UCSD easily beat Grand Canyon 71-59.
This time the Tritons did it with a hot hand from the field, shooting a blistering 55.5 percent from the field to build off a 30-23 halftime lead and eventually finish with a overall shooting percentage of 51.1.
Ginn, averaging 14.9 points per game for UCSD, again paced the Tritons, pouring in 23 points. Nicholle Bromley joined fellow sophomore Ginn in double-figures, adding 10 points and eight rebounds. The Tritons were also given a spark off the bench by Karina Siam, who went a perfect 3-3 from the field and finished with 10 points in 14 minutes.
Grand Canyon again was led by Watson, who shot 10-17 from the field to lead all scorers with 25 points. Antelope Janet Glasby was the only other double-digit scorer for GCU, finishing with 10 points.
With the two victories and the three-game winning streak the Tritons are currently riding, they have rocketed to 10-7 overall and evened out their CCAA mark to 6-6. Grand Canyon lost their 12th league game and stands with an overall record of 2-14.