Carson, CA - It was a cold night in the Torodome in more ways than one, as the CSUDH women's basketball team could not overcome the 38-17 free throw attempt disparity and dropped its first conference game of the season 57-50 to the visiting Tritons of UC San Diego. With the loss the Toros fall to 3-2, 2-1 CCAA and UCSD improves to 3-1, 2-1 CCAA.
With the thermostat reading somewhere in the low 60s, both teams would struggle to find a handle on the basketball, with the ball clanging off the rim seemingly on every shot.
After UCSD built a 7-0 lead with 12:30 remaining on the clock, Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS) would finally get the Toro offense on the board with a hard fought basket in the paint.
One minute later Bailey would grab an offensive rebound and score to cut the Triton lead to three, and then would score another basket to cut the lead to one at 7-6 with 9:55 on the clock.
A pair of free throws by Hillary Hanson would end the Toro run, and kick start an 8-0 run by the Tritons over the next three minutes of play.
Over the remaining five minutes in the first half, UCSD's lead would grow to as much as eight, but a pair of long range bombs by Unique Bennett (San Bernardino, CA/Chaffey College) in the final minute and a half would trim the deficit as CSUDH went into the locker room trailing 21-17.
The cold weather would help produce 11 turnovers by each team in the first 20-minute session, and UCSD would shoot 31.6% from the field to the Toros 25.0%.
Bailey would again breathe life into the Toro offense after the break, scoring three quick points to cut the lead to 21-20.
However, a jumper in the paint by the CCAA's leading scorer in Leora Juster, followed by a trey from Alexis Kostlan would stop the Toro momentum and rebuild a six-point lead for the Tritons.
UCSD would gain momentum and increase its lead to 42-32 with 7:30 on the clock when Teriana Loftin (Torrance, CA/South Torrance HS) came in off the bench and hit a jumper, and followed with a pair of free throws 20 seconds later to give CSUDH some life and cut the Triton lead to four at 44-40.
UCSD would quickly respond with a jumper and trey by Michelle Osier, followed by a layup by Juster to push its lead to 11.
CSUDH would have one last push over the remaining five minutes and cut the lead to one on a bucket by Brigayle Iglehart (San Diego, CA/Grossmont College) with 56 seconds left in the game, but UCSD would hit all six of its free throw attempts to finish off the Toros.
Overall neither team would shoot over 35% from the floor or 75% from the free throw line, despite UCSD posting a 38-17 free throw advantage.
Juster led all players with 23 points and five rebounds, while Hanson chipped in 10 points and five rebounds in the win.
Bailey would be the lone Toro in double figures with 13 points and five rebounds, while Iglehart added eight points in the effort.
CSUDH will next be in action on Monday, December 18, when they host Notre Dame de Namur in a non-conference contest, with first tip slated for 5:30 pm in the Torodome.
