After a strong beginning to the season, the UCSD women’s basketball team has been on a downturn of late.
Guardian
This theme continued last weekend as the Tritons lost two games on the road. UCSD was defeated by Cal Poly Pomona 93-76 on Friday and also lost to CSU San Bernardino 56-51 on Saturday.
Friday, the Tritons faced a large task as their opponents, the Cal Poly Broncos, are ranked first overall in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
UCSD started out strong and looked as if they would run away with the upset victory, leading at one point by 13 points, 36-23, with 5:57 remaining in the first half. The Broncos made a run, though, and narrowed the game to 46-42 by the break.
The Tritons never got anything going in the second half. Three of their players, including two starters, suffered with three fouls a piece heading into the final period.
“”We stopped handling their pressure,”” said Triton head coach Judy Malone. “”We got into foul trouble. When you get into foul trouble, you don’t defend as well. They pressed the whole game.””
Cal Poly, too, had trouble, but their young but deep bench helped them out of the morass.
It was all Broncos in the second half. Up 65-63, the home team rambled off a 20-2 run and never looked back.
Triton star Maya Fok lead her team with 14 points, four assists and three steals. Ali Ginn scored 14, Nicholle Bromley added 12 and Ashley Kokjohn chipped in with 10 points.
The Broncos were lead by Lauri McIntosh, who scored 16.
UCSD had better luck against San Bernardino but still came up short.
San Bernardino controlled the first half and boasted a 30-23 lead heading into the break.
UCSD made a run during the second half. The Tritons outscored their opponents in the second half but still came up short where it really counted, losing the game 56-51.
“”We came out flat,”” Malone said. “”At the end, we had a chance to win it, but they made their free throws.””
Fok, again the Triton leading scorer, was the only UCSD player to score in double figures, logging 12 points. Genevieve Ruvald was dominant on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds.
Amy George lead San Bernardino with 13 points and six rebounds.
The Tritons record has dropped as of late, falling to 7-6 overall and 3-5 in CCAA competition.
“”We’re learning,”” Malone said. “”Division II is a different animal. They’re very athletic, quick. It’s a very physical league. We need to get more physical.””
The Tritons hope to rebound this weekend, when they play their first home games since classes resumed for winter quarter. They did have a large tournament at the end of December, but fellow Tritons were still in the thralls of their hard earned winter break.
“”It’s big,”” Malone said. “”We’re lucky to have this record after all the games on the road. We’re happy to be at home.””
On Friday, UCSD hosts California State University Los Angeles at 8 p.m. This will be the first of two games against Los Angeles, with the second coming on the road at the end February.
On Saturday, CSU Dominguez Hills pays a visit for a 6 p.m. game. Dominguez will also feel the Tritons’ wrath during a game in February.
