San Diego College Basketball Teams Achieve Key Victories

San Diego’s college basketball teams delivered impressive performances on March 9, 2024, with significant victories for women’s teams at San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California San Diego (UCSD), while the University of San Diego (USD) claimed their first conference win of the season.

SDSU Women Overcome Fourth-Quarter Deficit

The SDSU women’s basketball team showcased their resilience by rallying from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure a dramatic 73-72 victory against Utah State in the Mountain West Conference. Naomi Panganiban emerged as the standout player, hitting a contested 15-foot jumper with just four seconds remaining to clinch the win. This victory marked SDSU’s eighth consecutive win, improving their record to 12-3 overall and 6-0 in conference play.

Panganiban contributed significantly to the comeback, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with a season-high 23 points. The Aztecs outscored Utah State 26-16 in the final period, recovering from a challenging third quarter where they were outscored 24-11. Kennedy Lee and Nala Williams also played pivotal roles, contributing 12 points and 11 points respectively, with Lee leading the team in rebounds with seven.

UCSD Tritons Extend Winning Streak

Meanwhile, the UCSD women’s team continued their strong performance in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, defeating UC Riverside 70-54 at LionTree Arena. Forward Erin Condron delivered a stellar performance, achieving a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Tritons surged ahead early and maintained control, outscoring their opponents 50-16 in the paint.

The team’s defensive effort proved crucial, limiting UC Riverside to just 32.3 percent shooting from the floor. All five Tritons starters played over 30 minutes, demonstrating their commitment to the game. The victory marked the Tritons’ fourth consecutive win.

USD Claims First Conference Victory

In a tightly contested matchup, USD women’s basketball snapped a five-game losing streak, securing their first West Coast Conference victory by defeating the Waves 54-51 at home. Hallie Rhodes led the Toreros with 16 points, while freshman guard Olivia Owens made significant contributions with six points, 11 rebounds, and five steals.

After trailing 44-36 at the end of the third quarter, USD surged ahead in the final minutes. Rhodes hit a crucial three-pointer to give USD a 48-47 lead, and Owens’s defensive rebound set up a layup by Malia Tharpe to extend the lead to 50-47. The Toreros’ defensive efforts were key, as they made crucial stops in the dying minutes, culminating in two game-clinching free throws from Tharpe.

Tritons Men Secure Narrow Win

On the men’s side, the Tritons also found success, defeating UC Riverside 69-66 in a comeback victory. Bol Dengdit led the scoring with 17 points, while Leo Beath and Tom Beattie each contributed 11 points. Beattie also grabbed 11 rebounds, showcasing a strong all-around performance.

In a contrasting matchup, USD men’s basketball faced Pacific, ultimately falling 77-70. The Toreros initially led 60-47 after a three-pointer from Vuk Boskovic but struggled to maintain their advantage, scoring just two points over a critical 6:29 stretch. Guard Ty-Laur Johnson led USD with 19 points, but they were outrebounded 50-32 in the contest, a statistic that proved detrimental.

The recent performances of San Diego’s college teams highlight the competitive nature of college basketball in the region. With the women’s teams maintaining strong records and the men’s teams striving for improvement, fans will be eager to see how the remainder of the season unfolds.