The UC San Diego women’s basketball team finished the regular season with a 17-15 record.
But that number is deceiving.
The Tritons won six of their last eight games and finished fourth in the Big West Conference with a 13-7 record, earning a first-round bye in this week’s Big West Tournament.
“We’ve evolved,” UCSD coach Heidi VanDerveer. “This has been a great season of growth.”
After defeating Occidental in the season opener last November, the Tritons lost eight straight games.
There were reasons. The Tritons were young and inexperienced at the start of the season. They were also hurting.
When asked to describe the start of UCSD’s 2024-2025 campaign, starting guard Sabrina Ma chose one word: “wonky.”
“At the beginning of the year, we didn’t know each other,” Ma said. “Some of us were new to the program and a demanding campus. We were also putting in a new defensive scheme. There was a lot of adjusting going on. And that takes time.”
“There came a time when it all started to click,” added guard Sumayah Sugapong. “I can’t say exactly when.”
But VanDerveer knows. The turnaround began with the San Diego Classic.
The Tritons lost to Northern Kentucky 58-50 in the opening game of their tournament at LionTree Arena, then defeated La Salle 69-53.
“I thought we should have beaten Northern Kentucky,” VanDerveer said. “Then we played a complete game two nights later. Over the course of those two games, I could see an understanding and a gaining of confidence. We started playing to each other’s strengths.
“We’re still young. But we’re deep and athletic. I don’t think anyone wants to play us right now.”
The fourth-seeded Tritons begin their Big West tourney at noon Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s game between UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly. The winner of that game takes on top-seeded Hawaii at noon Friday. UCSD lost to Hawaii in overtime at home then lost by five points in Hawaii.
Said VanDerveer: “We have a shot.”
UCSD has two seniors, a junior and two sophomores in its starting lineup. But two of the five (Ma and Kayanna Spriggs) transferred in this season and one returning starter (Parker Montgomery) was injured when the season started. The five most active players off the bench are a freshman and four sophomores.
“Our youth bodes well for the now and the future,” said VanDerveer.
The Tritons’ defense was a preseason project directed by associate head coach Vanessa Nygaard. A Carlsbad High School graduate, Nygaard played for VanDerveer’s sister, Tara, at Stanford before embarking on a coaching career. She was most recently head coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
“Overall, we play well off each other,” said VanDerveer. “We’re versatile and we do a good job of maximizing our effort. We’re connected and instinctive. But for us … this has been our best defensive team ever.”
Said Sugapong: “I love our defense. We really get after people. Be as disruptive as possible. Apply pressure. Have active hands. Our defense has an identity. And it creates offensive opportunities. Defense creates momentum.”
UCSD forces an average of 20.8 turnovers a game while holding opponents to a 37.4 field goal percentage and an average of 58.2 points a game. But the Tritons held 10 Big West opponents to fewer than 50 points.
Sugapong, a product of La Jolla Country Day, leads the Tritons in scoring (14.3 points a game), assists (120) and steals (80).
“Sumayah is the ultimate player and teammate,” VanDerveer said. “She is competitive and she cares. She can influence a game in so many ways.”
Ma, who transferred in from San Jose State, is averaging 10.4 points a game while leading UCSD in 3-pointers (71) and 3-point percentage (37.3).
“Sabrina has great size (5-foot-10) for a guard,” VanDerveer said. “She shoots with range. And she’s added a personality and emotional energy.”
Gracie Gallegos is averaging 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. VanDerveer calls her “a matchup nightmare — a 6-foot-1 athlete who can play point guard, defend a post and rebound.”
The 6-2 Spriggs is a product of Mater Dei Catholic who transferred in from Cal State Northridge. She averages 8.3 points per game and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds a game. Said VanDerveer: “Kayanna has given us a mentality. She plays with tremendous confidence and energy. She plays with great joy.”
Montgomery was limited at the start of the season by a wrist injury but shot 35.6% from 3-point range and averaged 6.7 points a game. Erin Condron is a 6-4 sophomore post who missed half the season with a thumb injury. She is averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds a game.
Ma, who hopes to play international basketball when she graduates, talked about transferring to UCSD.
“Coming out of high school, my parents were excited about me coming to a university of this caliber,” she said. “When I told them last year I was transferring here, they were super happy because there aren’t many UCSD’s anywhere.”
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the court. To nominate a team, email [email protected].
