UC San Diego defeats Cal Poly Mustangs at home Saturday, extending Tritons’ Big West momentum

Result and context

UC San Diego defeated Cal Poly 85-61 on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in a Big West women’s basketball game in San Luis Obispo. The win pushed UC San Diego to 20-8 overall and 15-3 in conference play, while Cal Poly fell to 3-25 overall and 1-17 in the Big West.

The result underscored the gap between a conference contender and a rebuilding program late in the regular season. UC San Diego entered the matchup near the top of the Big West standings, while Cal Poly had struggled to find traction in league play.

How the game unfolded

UC San Diego established control early and steadily expanded its advantage across all four quarters. The Tritons led 18-11 after the first period, then widened the margin in the second quarter and carried a 45-26 lead into halftime.

Cal Poly’s most productive stretch came in the third quarter, when the Mustangs scored 17 points, but the Tritons matched the push and maintained separation. UC San Diego added 21 points in the fourth quarter to close out the 24-point victory.

What it means in the Big West race

With the victory, UC San Diego strengthened its positioning in the conference standings and added another decisive result as the postseason approached. The Tritons’ 15-3 Big West record reflects sustained performance across the league schedule and an ability to deliver on the road and at key points in the calendar.

For Cal Poly, the loss continued a difficult conference campaign. At 1-17 in league play, the Mustangs faced the ongoing challenge of generating consistent scoring and sustaining defensive stops against top-tier conference opponents.

Key takeaways

• UC San Diego’s 85 points included a 45-point first half that set the tone for the game.
• Cal Poly trailed by 19 at halftime and could not reduce the deficit over the final two quarters.
• The outcome reinforced UC San Diego’s profile as a leading Big West team heading toward the conference tournament.

Final score (Feb. 28, 2026): UC San Diego 85, Cal Poly 61. Quarter-by-quarter: 18-11, 27-15, 19-17, 21-18.