UCSD Shuts Down Cal State East Bay in Defensive Struggle, 61-37

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball earned its fourth victory in its last five games on Tuesday, defeating Cal State East Bay 61-37 in a low scoring affair at RIMAC Arena.

Chelsea Carlisle and Lauren Freidenberg scored 12 points apiece for the Tritons, who shot a blazing 59% in the second half to run away from the Pioneers. UCSD improves to 4-6 overall with the win and moves to 2-1 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play heading into Sunday's showdown with rival Humboldt State.

Cal State East Bay remains winless in 2010-11 at 0-7 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

A game after limiting San Francisco State to just 52 points on 36% shooting, UCSD's defense was even better on Tuesday, holding visiting CSUEB to a grand total of 37. The Pioneers finished just 33% from the field, converting 14-of-43 attempts. Both numbers were season-lows for a Triton opponent.

UCSD forced the visitors into 33 turnovers in the game, leading to 21 points on the other end. The Tritons have now come up with a total of 62 miscues over the last two games.

The Tritons struggled to find their rhythm against the Pioneers' zone defense in the first half, converting just 9-of-29 shots from the field, 31%, but rounded into form over the final 25 minutes of play and wound up shooting 45% for the game. UCSD closed the first half on a 18-6 run and then outscored CSUEB 37-20 in the second period.

Carlisle finished 5-of-12 from the field and impacted the game in just about every way, finishing with three rebounds, eight assists and six steals. Freidenberg was 5-of-10 from the floor and added seven boards and three steals. The junior duo carried most of the scoring load as no other Triton finished with more than six.

Lauren Lucchesi also finished with 12 for Cal State East Bay, hitting 5-of-11 shots from the floor. She added eight rebounds. Claudia Nelson finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Emily Osga drained a three-pointer on the Tritons' first possession, but UCSD would manage just three more points over the next 12 minutes to fall behind 11-6. Nicole Anderson-Jew and Freidenberg followed with back-to-back baskets for the Tritons and a Daisy Feder jumper gave UCSD the lead at 16-13 with six and a half minutes remaining in the half as the Tritons began to make their push.

UCSD would then score eight of the final 12 points in the period, taking a 24-17 advantage at the break.

UCSD led 29-17, before CSUEB closed to within 29-21 on a layup from Lucchesi with 15:38 remaining. Carlisle and Anderson-Jew answered with back-to-back threes, however, pushing the margin to 14. UCSD would extend its advantage to 52-32 on a jumper by Elaina White with 6:35 left and eventually lead by 25 at 61-36.

The Tritons will now entertain the Lumberjacks on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in their final contest before the holidays. HSU dealt UCSD three of its five losses in 2009-10, including defeats in both the CCAA Tournament and NCAA West Regional.

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