| Semifinals - No. 4 seed UC San Diego 51, No. 1 seed Hawai'i 49 |
Box score |
UCSD presser |
UH presser | Game Highlights
A last-second layup for sophomore
Sumayah Sugapong lifted No. 4 seed UC San Diego over regular-season champion and top-seeded Hawai'i with a narrow 51-49 win at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. This thrilling contest was part of the semifinal round of the 2025 Big West Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Credit Union 1.
The game saw the Tritons capitalize on a first-half surge to quiet the raucous UH crowd and engage the UCSD fanbase to a 23-point halftime lead. Despite the late surge to knot the score with 1:20 to play, UCSD closed out the game with the shot from Sugapong with just 0.2 seconds remaining.
With the win, UC San Diego improves their record to 19-15 and advances to their first-ever Big West Championship finale, set to face the winner of No. 2 seed UC Irvine and No. 3 seed UC Davis on Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
This is the first year of NCAA Division I postseason eligibility for the Tritons, after completing a four-year reclassification from Division II, where UCSD competed in the CCAA.
Sugapong led UCSD with 17 points including the game-winner, five rebounds and two assists. Graduate student Parker Montgomery contributed significantly to the scoring effort with 16 points including four triples. .Gracie Gallegos was notable on the glass, recording a game-high 10 rebounds.
UC San Diego dominated the first quarter against Hawaii, leading 22-4. UCSD was 10-of-18 while holding Hawai'i to 11.8 percent shooting. The Tritons opened the scoring with
Parker Montgomery hitting a jumper just 42 seconds into the game and followed up with a three-pointer at 8:01 to create an early spark. UH only mustered two baskets in the period, both by Big West Player of the Year
Lily Wahinekapu.
In the second quarter, the Tritons continued to grow the lead, stretching the advantage to as many as 26 points when
Erin Condron layed it in with 54 seconds to play in the half.
In the third quarter, Hawai'i began the rally, with the 'Bows scoring 11 as UCSD managed just six points in the frame. The UH defense locked down to force four turnovers while holding the Tritons to just 3-of-16 shooting. UH freshman
Ritorya Tamilo scored a layup at 9:49 to open the half, assisted by
Imani Perez, followed by a
Meilani McBee three-pointer at 8:54 to setting the pace.
In the fourth quarter with the UH crowd back in the action, Wahinekapu and fellow senior
Brooklyn Rewers took over on offense to combine for 16 of their 20 points while holding UCSD to just four points. The Rainbow Wahine defense forced eight turnovers which were converted to 12 points trying to mount the largest comeback in Big West women's basketball history, back-to-back Rewers layups on the fast break tied the score at 49-all with 80 seconds to play.
After empty possessions for both teams, Condron stole a bad pass by the 'Bows to give UCSD the chance to win the game with nine seconds remaining. After a timeout, the Tritons put the ball in the hands of their team leader and Sugapong drove to the right, put the ball in her left and layed it around and in for the win.
Hawai'i caps the year with a 22-9 record with Wahinekapu adding team highs of 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a final collegiate game for the 'Bows. Rewers finished with 10 points in the loss.
Gallery: (3-14-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 4 UCSD vs No. 1 UH