No. 2 UC San Diego 57, No. 3 Sonoma State 55
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Senior forward Meaghan Noud scored a game-high 19 points, including the winning basket with just over a minute remaining, to lift No. 2 seed UC San Diego to a 57-55 victory over No. 3 seed Sonoma State in the first semifinal game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament Friday afternoon at Coussoulis Arena on the campus of Cal State San Bernardino.
Sonoma State (20-8) had two chances to tie the contest in the final five seconds, but a three-point shot by Chelsey Armacost and shot attempt by Genny Anderson at the buzzer were off the mark.
UC San Diego (22-8) advances to the CCAA title game where it will play the winner of the Chico State-Cal Poly Pomona semifinal that tips off at 3 p.m.
The Tritons had to battle from behind for most of the contest as they trailed by as many as nine points in the first-half and rallied from a seven-point deficit with 8:26 remaining.
Noud’s layup with 1:13 remaining gave UC San Diego a 56-55 lead and Michelle Osier made one of two free throws with :47 remaining to make it a 57-55 game.
Joining Noud in double figures for the Tritons were Osier, who scored 12 points, and sophomore forward Erin Noonan who added 13.
Senior guard Danae Wellander scored a game-high 21 points to lead Sonoma State and Armacost added 16 points for the Seawolves.