Last-Second Layup Propels UCSD Women to Upset Win Over Top-Seeded Hawaii, Advancing to Big West Championship Game
In a thrilling finish, sophomore guard Sumayah Sugapong drove to the basket and sank a layup in the final second of play, lifting UC San Diego to a 51-49 win over top-seeded Hawaii. The victory propels UCSD into the Big West Conference Tournament women’s championship game in their first season of Division I eligibility.
The fourth-seeded Tritons (19-15) will face third-seeded UC Davis (22-11) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Henderson, Nevada. UC Davis defeated UCSD 69-58 last Saturday in their regular-season finale, sweeping the season series.
Sugapong’s clutch basket capped off a remarkable comeback by Hawaii, who had trailed by as much as 27 points in the first half. After Hawaii came out strong in the third quarter, starting with a 7-0 run and eventually a 15-0 run, UCSD found themselves scoreless for the first eight minutes of the second half.
Hawaii managed to tie the game at 49-49 when Brooklyn Rewers sank two free throws with 1:20 left on the clock.
With only 10 seconds remaining, UCSD’s Gracie Gallegos made a key steal, allowing the Tritons to call a timeout and set up a final play for Sugapong. Sugapong’s game-winning layup mirrored a shot she had missed at the end of regulation on January 30, when UCSD lost to Hawaii 65-63 in overtime.
“I beat myself up after that miss,” Sugapong reflected post-game. “This was the exact same shot. I was determined.”
UCSD head coach Heidi VanDerveer praised the team’s resilience: “I’ve got to give credit to our team for withstanding their rallies. We learned to win this year.”
The Tritons started strong, with fifth-year senior Parker Montgomery contributing 10 points, including two three-pointers, as UCSD surged to a 22-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. By the 1:58 mark of the first half, UCSD had extended their lead to 39-12.
“We knew we had to hit them first,” said Montgomery, who scored all of her 16 points in the first half.
However, Hawaii, who had a bye into the semifinal and was rested, mounted a fierce second-half comeback. The Tritons went cold, shooting just 5-for-27 from the floor and missing all nine of their three-point attempts, as Hawaii outscored UCSD 31-10 in the second half.
“We got a little bit frantic in the second half,” said VanDerveer.
Sugapong added, “It was tough for sure when they went on that run in the fourth quarter. During breaks, we’d tell each other ‘Calm down, we’re good, we’re good.’”
Sugapong ended the game as the top scorer with 17 points. Eric Condron contributed eight points off the bench, while Gallegos added four points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Sugapong, Montgomery, and Sabrina Ma played all 40 minutes, with Gallegos sitting for just one minute. Condron and Kayana Spriggs rotated in the post.
“This tournament is our opportunity to show what we can do,” Montgomery said. “And we’re proving it right now.”
NCAA Division II Tournament
No. 6 Central Washington 74, Point Loma Nazarene 53:
Central Washington (22-7) dominated the game, taking a 21-4 lead after the first quarter and a 39-12 advantage at halftime before cruising to a 21-point victory in the NCAA Division II Women’s West Regionals quarterfinals in Carson. This season-ending loss ended Point Loma Nazarene's 10-game winning streak, as the Sea Lions finish their season at 25-6.
Eiley Tippins led PLNU with 12 points. Point guard Kylee Byon added nine points and five assists, while Alli McDonald grabbed 12 rebounds and scored eight points. Tavia Rowell also finished with eight points.
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