Sumayah Sugapong scored on a driving layup with 39 seconds to go to give UC San Diego a one-point lead, then added four free throws in the final 16 seconds to deliver the Tritons a 59-54 win over Cal Poly in Thursday’s Big West Tournament quarterfinals in Henderson, Nev.
The fourth-seeded UCSD women (18-15) will play No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Hawaii (22-8) at noon Friday.
The Tritons trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and never led until a Sugapong jumper with 70 seconds to play gave UCSD a 53-52 lead. Eighth-seeded Cal Poly (14-18) regained the lead with 45 seconds to play.
Sugapong then drove the lane for the decisive basket on UCSD’s next possession.
The La Jolla Country Day grad scored 16 of her game-high 29 points in the second half. She capped the effort by scoring UC San Diego’s final eight points.
Parker Montgomery scored 13 points for UCSD, going 3-for-7 from three-point range. Kayanna Spriggs had 11 rebounds and four points.
— BILL CENTER
