Box Score LA JOLLA, Calif. – Playing its best basketball of the season, the Pioneer women's basketball team extended their winning streak to eight games following a 59-44 victory over CCAA co-leader UC San Diego on Friday night.
East Bay, who lost to UC San Diego by 11 points in January, remains in fourth place in the CCAA with a 12-7 record. The Pioneers are 14-9 for the season. UC San Diego, which had a nine-game winning streak snapped, is 15-4 in the CCAA and 17-9 for the season.
The Pioneer defense, ranked third in Division II in scoring defense (50.7), held the Tritons to a season-low 44 points. Daisy Feder, the Tritons' leading scorer averaging 18.5 points per game, was held to 10 points on 3-of-14 from the field.
“We were focused and played great team basketball with some very well executed plays,” Pioneer Head Coach
Suzy Barcomb said. “Our goal was to try and take points away from their dynamic scoring trio and we were able to do that.”
Marlene MacMillan led the way for the Pioneers with 14 points on 6 of 14 shooting from the floor. MacMillan had a team-high seven rebounds.
Lauren Lucchesi followed with 12 points. Lucchesi added five rebounds and two blocked shots.
Brianna Terrance scored 11 points and six rebounds.
Meaghan Cichoke contributed to the Pioneer win with seven points on 3 of 7 shooting for the field.
“Our team approach to sharing the ball and having different players step up each night was evident again tonight,” Barcomb said. “We try to find the hot hand each game and get them the ball within our offensive sets.”
Lucchesi hit a jumper to put the Pioneers ahead 12-11 with 9:48 left in the first half. A 9-0 run eight minutes later increased the Pioneers advantage to 21-11. Each team scored a basket as the Pioneers held a 23-13 halftime lead. East Bay held the Tritons to 13 points, 6 of 26 shooting from the field and 1 of 10 from the three-point area in the first half.
“We did all of the little things correctly tonight, especially defensively in the first half,” Barcomb said.
The Pioneers kept the attack going in the second half, leading by as many as 20 points, 51-31, on a layup by Terrance with 5:25 remaining.
UC San Diego went on a 5-0 run a minute later to trim the lead to 51-36. The Tritons trailed 54-44 with 2:11 left on a jumper by Erin Dautremont.
East Bay put the game away with four free throws in the final 2:00 minutes to earn one of their most impressive wins of the season.
“The team is really focused on our team goals,” Barcomb said. “We have players buying into our defensive system and I believe that has been the key to our surge.”
The Pioneers will be seeking their ninth straight victory at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, February 23. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
