SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the UC San Diego women’s basketball team to a decisive 72-54 victory over the Denver Pioneers in a non-conference game Friday night at RIMAC Arena.

The Tritons, playing their home opener before a crowd of 1,292, broke open a tight contest by outscoring Denver 31-16 in the pivotal third period. The game was a defensive struggle early, with UC San Diego holding a narrow 28-25 lead at halftime.

Sabrina Ma led all scorers for UC San Diego, pouring in 19 points. The San Francisco native also contributed four rebounds and an assist in 23 minutes of action. The Tritons’ offense was efficient, scoring 72 points on 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 98.4, significantly outpacing Denver’s offensive rating of 73.3.

The Pioneers were plagued by poor shooting and ball security throughout the contest. Denver shot just 30.2% from the floor, connecting on only 16 of 53 attempts, and were anemic from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 21 three-point attempts. The Pioneers also committed 20 turnovers, which the Tritons converted into multiple scoring opportunities. UC San Diego’s defense was stifling, recording 11 steals and five blocks.

Coryn Watts was a bright spot for Denver, leading her team with 15 points. The guard from Aurora, Colorado, also tallied four rebounds and two assists. Jocelyn Medina and Laia Monclova each added 11 points for the Pioneers.

Beyond Ma’s scoring, UC San Diego received contributions across the roster. Dymonique Maxie of Hayward, California, controlled the glass with eight rebounds to go with four points and three assists. Nicki Polocheck from Houston added five points and six rebounds, while Erin Condron of Woodend, Australia, protected the rim with three blocks.

The loss drops Denver to 0-2 to start the season, while UC San Diego evens its record at 1-1. The Pioneers will look for their first win on the road at Loyola Marymount on Sunday. The Tritons’ next contest is at home against Sacramento State on Wednesday.