UC San Diego guard Makayla Rose is a record-setting thief.
Twice in the past four games, the 5-foot-7 senior has reset the Tritons’ record for steals in a single game. And over the past four games, she has averaged 6.5 steals a game — giving her 82 on the season.
“I’m just really hungry for the ball,” Rose said earlier this week while discussing her uncanny ability to rob opposing players. “My favorite is stealing the ball off the opponent’s dribble. But I also like anticipating the pass and jumping out.”
Tritons coach Heidi VanDerveer calls Rose “flat-out relentless.”
“It starts with excellent instincts and athletic skills. But very few players I’ve coached are as relentless as she is. She only knows one way. This girl is a winner.”
Rose’s defense goes far beyond steals. She was the Big West Conference defensive player of the year last season while at UC Riverside. Rose and Big West Conference-leading Tritons (17-7, 12-2) travel to face her old team at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“Yes, she can take it away from you,” said VanDerveer. “But she’s also great at denying players the ball. She thrives in our scheme with her instincts, quickness and speed.”
And a Rose steal often results in two points at the other end.
“She immediately turns defense into offense,” said VanDerveer. “She is so fast she makes other players look like they are standing still.”
Plus, as she is racing to the other end of the court, Rose has the knack for keeping her body between the robbed opponent and the basket. “I’m greedy,” Rose laughed. “I’m looking for the basket and the free throw for the three-point play.”
UC Irvine guard Hunter Hernandez, right, drives to the basket around UC San Diego guard Makayla Rose during a Big West game on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Rose first broke UCSD’s single-game steals record on Jan. 31, plucking eight against Cal State Northridge. Two games later, she broke that mark with nine steals against Hawaii.
On the season, Rose is averaging 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.4 steals in more than 35 minutes per game.
“My dream,” she says, “is to have a double-double that includes steals.”
Rose isn’t the only Triton with larceny on her resume. As a team, UCSD’s full-court pressure defense averages 11.2 steals a game. Fellow guards Dymonique Maxie and Sabrina Ma have 56 and 43 steals this season, respectively. Forward Eric Condron, UCSD’s leading scorer (16.0 points a game) and rebounder (8.3 per game), also has 28 steals; guard Rosa Smith has 21.
“We focus on defense and work hard on defense,” said Rose. “Our defense leads to offensive momentum.”
UC San Diego guard Makayla Rose, right, tries to get around UC Irvine guard Shirel Nahum during a Big West game on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The game at UC Riverside (8-16, 6-8) will be a test of UCSD’s durability, coming off a three-OT loss. Rose and Condron each played 54 of 55 possible minutes in that game. Maxie played 51, Smith 48 and Ma 38.
“It’s a game we love,” Rose said. “We feel the minutes. But we feed off the intensity of the environment, the competition. I get so caught up, I don’t think about subbing out. Plus. Our training staff does a great job after every game, helping us recover.”
Notable
The San Diego State women (19-4, 13-1) will also be on the road Saturday, protecting a two-game Mountain West lead at Nevada (8-16, 4-10) at 1 p.m.
After putting up a fight against West Coast Conference-leading Gonzaga, USD (9-18, 3-11) is off until Thursday.