UC San Diego defeated Hawai’i, 60-48, in The Big West championship on March 14 at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. Erin Condron led the Tritons with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Makayla Rose added 17 points and eight rebounds. Both players played the entire game as UC San Diego secured its second consecutive Big West title.
The victory marks the sixth straight win for the Tritons, who will now compete in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. This achievement is significant as it highlights UC San Diego’s successful transition to Division I competition and continued dominance within their conference.
The game started slowly for both teams, with UC San Diego struggling offensively early but maintaining a lead through strong defense. Hawai’i built a ten-point advantage late in the first half before UC San Diego rallied after halftime. Key plays from Rosa Smith and Dymonique Maxie helped shift momentum, allowing the Tritons to take control by out-rebounding Hawai’i and capitalizing on turnovers.
In the fourth quarter, UC San Diego found its rhythm offensively and extended its lead to double digits. Despite shooting only 36 percent from the field overall, their defensive effort held Hawai’i under 50 points for just the seventh time this season. The win also improved UC San Diego’s record to 5-0 all-time at Lee’s Family Forum.
Since becoming eligible for postseason play in Division I in 2025, UC San Diego has not lost a Big West tournament game. The team will learn its NCAA First Round opponent during Sunday’s selection show on ESPN and plans to host a watch party at LionTree Arena.
After two decades of success at lower divisions—including nearly 150 individual national championships—UC San Diego Athletics continues to excel academically and athletically as part of The Big West Conference.
