SAN DIEGO — The Tritons faced UC Davis on Thursday in a close‑fought game at LionTree Arena, one that began with promise but slowly slipped out of UCSD’s hands.
The Aggies (13-6, 6-2 Big West) struck first, but the Tritons (12-6, 7-1 Big West) responded immediately and controlled the pace early, ending the first quarter with a confident 21–11 lead. Erin Condron, the Tritons’ high scorer on the night, set the tone with a clean layup that energized the home crowd and helped UC San Diego build momentum.
The Tritons managed to hold onto that lead through the second quarter, though signs of fatigue and hesitation began to creep in. UC Davis capitalized, outscoring UC San Diego 22-17 and trimming the deficit at halftime to five, 38–33.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point. A layup by Davis’ Megan Norris, their leading scorer in the matchup, tied the game at 40–40, putting real pressure on the Tritons for the first time since the opening minutes. Still, UC San Diego refused to fold. The Tritons tightened up defensively, reclaimed control, and entered the fourth quarter ahead 48–44.
But the Aggies’ persistence finally broke through. Four minutes into the final period, UC Davis took the lead for the first time since their opening basket, edging ahead 52–51. The Tritons never managed to reclaim it, and despite flashes of urgency, the game closed at 66–62.
Statistically, the difference came down to execution. The Aggies shot more efficiently from the field (46.2% vs. 33.8%), won the rebounding battle (40 vs. 39), and hit threes at a higher clip (34.8% vs. 23.1%).
Even the categories UC San Diego dominated weren’t enough to overcome the shooting struggles. The Tritons forced 15 steals to Davis’ 6, grabbed 12 offensive boards compared to the Aggies’ five, and shot 76.9% from the free‑throw line to Davis’ 62.5%. The effort was there. The finishing wasn’t.
Head coach Heidi VanDerveer reflected on that imbalance after the game, pointing to missed opportunities that could have shifted the outcome.
“We lacked a little of the poise and rhythm offensively that I think we normally have,” said VanDerveer during the post‑game interview. “I know we forced nineteen turnovers, but we only got twelve points off those turnovers.”
She emphasized that the team’s competitiveness wasn’t the issue, but the details were.
“We played hard, but we didn’t play hard enough or smart enough to come out with a win.”
The Tritons, No. 2 in the Big West, now turn their attention to their next challenge: a road matchup against Big West No. 1 UC Irvine on tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Anteaters (17-2, 8-0 Big West) have won 16 straight. VanDerveer expects a physical, high‑intensity contest and stressed the importance of leaning into UC San Diego’s strengths.
“It’s going to be a battle of wills. We have to use our athleticism, our speed, quickness, against their size. I think it’s going to be a great battle.”
Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UCSD | 21 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 62 |
UCD | 11 | 22 | 11 | 22 | 66 |
Credit: Jae Choi/UC San Diego
