A team of young women gathered on a basketball court, holding signs and celebrating.
The newly crowned champs of the Big West Tournament, UC San Diego’s Tritons. (Photo courtesy of Big West via UCSD Athletics)

Gracie Gallegos scored 24 points to spark fourth-seeded UC San Diego to a 75-66 win to capture the Big West Tournament championship on Saturday.

Playing in their first Division I postseason, the Tritons, with their victory over third-seeded UC Davis, claimed their first tournament title, in their first try, since becoming postseason eligible after joining the Big West.

The triumph also means they move on to the NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday.

UC San Diego was one of the most successful NCAA Division II programs for two decades before joining Division I and the Big West in 2020, but had to wait out a five-season transition period to participate in postseason action.

The Tritons were raring to go when they finally got to the Big West Tournament, knocking off Cal Poly in the quarterfinals. On Friday, they edged top-seeded Hawaii when Sumayah Sugapong hit a layup with 0.2 left for a 51-49 win.

“It feels amazing,” Sugapong, a La Jolla Country Day alum. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

Gallegos opened Saturday’s title game with a three-point play, and her free throw with 4:17 left in the first quarter gave the Tritons a 9-0 lead. They scored eight points in the paint en route to a 16-9 lead heading into the second period.

UC San Diego (20-15) held a 34-21 lead at the half and limited the Aggies to just 23% shooting (7-for-31).

Gallegos was 6 of 12 from the field and converted 12 of 14 at the free-throw line to lead the Tritons, pulling down seven rebounds, along with dishing three assists with a steal and a blocked shot.

Sabrina Ma added 15 points and six rebounds. Sugapong – who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player – had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Erin Condron added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

In addition to Sugapong, Parker Montgomery and Gallegos, a redshirt sophomore, were selected to the All-Tournament team.

Montgomery, who had eight points and four rebounds in 39 minutes of play, chose the Tritons despite knowing her team would have to wait out the Big West transition period, wanting all the while “to make a statement for UC San Diego.”

“I was sitting on the bench jus taking it in, taking in the moment,” the graduate student said. “This is what I came back for.”

UCSD Coach Heidi Vanderveer won’t know her team’s opponent until Sunday, but said the Tritons will be ready, in part because of the level of competition at the Big West tourney.

“I feel like we are prepared for anything that comes our way,” said Vanderveer, in her 13th season as UCSD’s coach.

The NCAA March Madness selection show airs on ESPN at 5 p.m. Sunday. Fans are invited to watch with the team live inside LionTree Arena on the UCSD campus. Admission is free.

Updated 9:35 p.m. March 15, 2025