SAN DIEGO – UC San Diego’s basketball team’s (17-6, 12-1 Big West) surge toward March continues to be hot.
Behind a dominant, record-setting performance from Makayla Rose, the Tritons knocked off Hawai’i (12-10, 6-6 Big West) 59-46 on Saturday at LionTree Arena, snapping the Rainbow Wahine’s six-game winning streak while extending their own to five games. The win came just one game after UCSD officially clinched a berth in the Big West Championship to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Rose delivered a history-making performance, finishing with a season-high 28 points and nine steals. The nine takeaways set a new single-game steals record for UC San Diego, breaking a mark Rose herself had just set a week earlier. It was her third 20-plus-point outing of the season and another example of how central she has become to the Tritons’ identity on both ends of the floor. To add to her dominant performance, Rose also beat the buzzer at the three-point line to send the game into halftime.
“It felt really good,” Rose said. “I think that was my first buzzer-beater three, so that was nice. And it was nice that my point guard, my teammates, found me and they trusted me to hit that shot.”
While Rose’s scoring stood out, her defensive pressure reshaped the game. UC San Diego forced Hawai’i into 18 turnovers, many of them coming directly off Rose’s hands in passing lanes or quick digs on the ball. Those stops fueled transition opportunities and helped the Tritons maintain control even during stretches when shots weren’t falling consistently.
“I’m just really happy to be here, and I’m happy to be with this program. I’m very proud of everyone,” Rose said.
The supporting cast did its part as well. Erin Condron added 12 points, while Rosa Smith chipped in 10, giving UC San Diego three players in double figures. The Tritons shot 40.7% from the field and held Hawai’i to just 38% shooting.
Equally telling is what the win says about UC San Diego’s current lineup stability. The Tritons starting five improved to 13-2 when opening together this season, a reflection of growing chemistry and defined roles as the postseason approaches. That cohesion showed up defensively, where UC San Diego consistently closed out on shooters and limited second-chance opportunities.
Hawai’i was led by Bailey Flavell’s 18 points, but the Rainbow Wahine struggled to generate sustained offense after the opening quarter. UC San Diego’s defensive intensity increased as the game wore on, particularly on the perimeter, where Rose and Condron helped cut off driving lanes and forced hurried decisions. By the final minutes, the Tritons had pushed the margin comfortably into double digits.
UCSD maintains control atop the Big West conference. Jae Choi/UC San Diego Athletics
Why is the win important?
Saturday’s victory represents more than just another tally in the win column. By snapping Hawai’i’s six game winning streak, UC San Diego showed it can go toe to toe with one of the Big West’s hottest teams while playing its brand of disciplined, pressure-heavy basketball.
“I think we’re playing very hard,” head coach Heidi Vanderveer said. “We’re very hungry, we are humble and we are healthy.”
With a Big West Championship berth already secured, the Tritons are now positioning themselves for seeding advantages entering the tournament. Wins like this reinforce confidence, validate lineup continuity and signal that UC San Diego is the favorite for the championship. They remain alone in first place in the Big West Standings.
UC San Diego is looking to avenge their only conference loss from UC Davis on Feb. 12 in Davis at 6 p.m. Watch on ESPN+.
