FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — UC San Diego outscored Cal State Fullerton 15-3 in overtime to secure an 81-69 women’s basketball victory Thursday night at Titan Gymnasium. The Tritons squandered a 13-point second-half lead, scoring only six points in the fourth quarter to allow the Titans to force the extra period. Makayla Rose led UC San Diego with 22 points and seven assists, while Sabrina Ma added 21 points. Cristina Jones scored 21 points for Cal State Fullerton. The Tritons forced 26 turnovers and made 10 3-pointers to improve to 9-5 overall. The Titans fell to 7-8.

FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a suffocating defensive finish, the UC San Diego women’s basketball team outlasted Cal State Fullerton 81-69 in overtime in a Big West Conference contest Thursday night at Titan Gymnasium. The Tritons, who led by as many as 13 points in the first half, saw that advantage evaporate completely in the fourth quarter before dominating the extra period to secure the road victory. UC San Diego improved to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in conference play, while Cal State Fullerton fell to 7-8 and 1-2. The most critical juncture of the game arrived in the final minutes of regulation and bled into overtime. After leading for nearly the entire contest, UC San Diego’s offense stalled completely in the fourth quarter, scoring just six points. Cal State Fullerton, led by Cristina Jones and Nicole Steiner, mounted a relentless 18-6 quarter to force overtime, culminating in two Maddy Tauro free throws with 10 seconds left that tied the game at 66. The Titans carried that momentum into the opening tip of overtime, but the Tritons’ defense immediately reset the game’s trajectory. UC San Diego forced turnovers on Cal State Fullerton’s first two possessions of the extra period, converting them into quick points. A steal and layup by Makayla Rose ignited a 9-0 run to start overtime, and the Tritons held the Titans to just a single field goal—a Steiner jumper—in the five-minute period. Cal State Fullerton managed only three points in overtime, missing nine of its 10 shot attempts as UC San Diego’s defensive pressure sealed the win. The game was a tale of two halves and contrasting styles. UC San Diego built its early lead on efficient perimeter shooting, connecting on 10 of 26 from 3-point range. The Tritons also forced 26 Titan turnovers, converting them into 19 steals. Cal State Fullerton dominated the glass, however, hauling in 18 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points, which fueled their comeback. Sabrina Ma led all scorers with 21 points for UC San Diego, adding three blocks and three steals. Makayla Rose, the Tritons’ top star, shook off two quiet recent performances to score 22 points, dish out seven assists and grab four steals in 45 minutes. Dymonique Maxie recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Cal State Fullerton was paced by Cristina Jones, who scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Nicole Steiner added 19 points, three assists and two blocks. UC San Diego shot 48.4% from the field overall, while holding Cal State Fullerton to 36.8% shooting. The Tritons’ offensive rating of 96.3 on 84 possessions outpaced the Titans’ 80.3 on 86 possessions, underscoring the efficiency gap despite the Titans’ rebounding edge. UC San Diego continues its conference schedule at home against UC Riverside on Saturday. Cal State Fullerton travels to face Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

Preview: UC San Diego at Cal State Fullerton Women’s Basketball FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A pivotal early Big West Conference matchup tips off Thursday night when the UC San Diego Tritons visit the Cal State Fullerton Titans at Titan Gymnasium. Both teams enter the contest looking to build momentum at the start of the league schedule. The Tritons (8-5) have won three of their last four, including a 65-54 road victory at Hawaii on Saturday. The Titans (7-7) are seeking consistency after splitting their first two conference games, falling 64-51 at UC Irvine following a narrow 62-61 win at UC Santa Barbara. The game features two of the conference’s top scorers in a compelling backcourt duel. UC San Diego will rely on guard Erin Condron, who is averaging 15.8 points over her last four games. She logged 38 minutes and scored 16 points in the win at Hawaii. Cal State Fullerton counters with dynamic guard Cristina Jones, who poured in 21 points against UC Irvine and is averaging 17.4 points over her last five outings. UC San Diego’s recent success has been fueled by defense, holding opponents to 59 points or fewer in three of their last four wins. Beyond Condron, contributors like Dymonique Maxie and Sabrina Ma provide balance. The Tritons’ 8-5 mark includes a perfect 5-0 record at home, but they are 3-5 on the road. Cal State Fullerton has shown a high-powered offense at times, exemplified by a 110-point outburst against La Sierra on Dec. 28. However, scoring has been less reliable in tighter games. The Titans will need production from players like Maddy Tauro and Kya Pearson to support Jones. The Tritons hold a slight edge in the overall season record, but the Titans have the home-court advantage in a series that is still developing as UC San Diego continues its transition to Division I. Thursday’s result will provide an early indicator of which team is ready to challenge for the upper tier of the Big West standings. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST. The Tritons travel to face UC Riverside on Saturday, while the Titans hit the road to take on Cal State Northridge.