The first quarter was all about senior guard Makayla Rose. The reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year frustrated the Roadrunners early, scoring six while adding two steals as the Tritons jumped out to an early lead.<\/p>\n
Redshirt junior guard Juna\u00e9 Mahan stole the spotlight in the second quarter. Mahan played all 10 minutes of the period and scored a pair of key buckets, including a triple from center field that gave the Tritons a double-digit lead going into halftime.<\/p>\n
After halftime, junior center Erin Condron took the reins. As the rest of the Triton offense stalled and the Roadrunners began closing the gap, the 6-foot-4 Aussie dominated the Roadrunners in the paint, dropping 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the period.<\/p>\n
The fourth quarter saw an early evening display of redshirt junior guard Rosa Smith\u2019s one-woman show. The Roadrunners could only sit and watch as Smith scored 12 points in three minutes, effortlessly cutting to the rim on one possession and draining a triple on the next.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like, as a program, it\u2019s going really well,\u201d Rose said to The UCSD Guardian in a postgame interview. \u201cWe work really well together, we get along off the court, and I think things are starting to really flow and gel. I think that shows in our results.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tritons quickly jumped out into the lead with a 9-0 run after tipoff, with senior guard Sabrina Ma scoring or assisting on seven of the 9 points. A Roadrunner three-ball spree put a brief pause to the party, giving Bakersfield its first \u2014 and only \u2014 lead of the game. Ma scored from deep on the next possession, converting a step-back jumper that hit nothing but net.<\/p>\n
Defense was the foundation for UCSD\u2019s victory, as an aggressive Triton press frustrated the Roadrunners into 21 turnovers. Four Tritons \u2014 Ma, Rose, Mahan, and junior guard Dymonique Maxie \u2014 had multiple steals, with Ma leading the way with five.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur defense fuels our offense,\u201d head coach Heidi VanDerveer said to The Guardian. \u201cWe have committed defenders: Makayla Rose, Dymo, Sab, Erin. They all complement each other very well, and that really gets us going in transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Bakersfield charge saw the Roadrunners claw within a possession, but any doubts of a Triton victory were quickly shattered when UCSD proceeded to make its next 10 field goals as part of a 24-4 run.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re consistent both defensively and offensively, we can get runs going,\u201d VanDerveer said. \u201cWe have people making big plays, very unselfish basketball, great teamwork, and that leads to getting easy baskets, getting open shots, and getting great stops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now one-third of the way through the Big West season, VanDerveer and company have emerged as surprise contenders for the Big West title. The Tritons are the first team since the 2022-23 Anteaters to win their first seven games of conference play.<\/p>\n
Next up for UCSD is a rematch of the 2025 Big West Championship final against UC Davis at home on Thursday, Jan. 22, then a clash with UC Irvine \u2014 winners of 15 straight games \u2014 on Saturday, Jan. 24.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing into these matchups, we really are just going to focus on ourselves,\u201d Rose said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to focus on our work. We\u2019re really going to work hard in practice and do what we do best, and hopefully, it works out in our favor.\u201d<\/p>\n
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