Long Beach State University
0-8,0-2Big West
UC San Diego
5-4,1-0Big West
Beach Flash Late Offensive Spark But Comeback Falls Short At UC San Diego
12/6/2025 3:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
A 75–45 road loss was tempered by a strong second-half surge in shooting, ball movement, and overall rhythm.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The Beach showed competitive stretches and continued development in spurts, but UC San Diego controlled the early pace as the Beach fell 75–45 on the road.
LBSU opened the game with a three from Judit Oliva Fernandez, yet the Tritons answered with a run that held the Beach scoreless for nearly six minutes. A late first-quarter three from Brynna Pukis broke the drought, and LBSU's defensive pressure forced more early turnovers in the period even as UCSD built its lead.Â
LBSU's most complete stretch came in the third, where the Beach opened with a trio of threes from Pukis, Ka, and Oliva Fernandez, sparking a 16-point quarter and giving the offense needed rhythm and spacing. Pukis stayed hot into the fourth, hitting two more threes and finishing with 12 points on the afternoon. Oliva Fernandez added 11 as a steady perimeter presence, and Ka delivered timely plays at both ends, contributing nine.
Defensively, the Beach generated multiple runs of stops, forced UCSD into its lowest-scoring quarter in the fourth, and created transition opportunities that reflected improved ball movement and control.
Though the comeback effort didn't close the gap, Long Beach State played with more confidence and cohesion after halftime, found production across the roster, and continued to show signs of the style and execution it aims to build as Big West play moves forward.
The Beach look to bounce back next week, hosting Portland in the Pyramid on Thursday, December 11. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.Â
