Southern University led by as many as 21 points in the first half Wednesday night, then held on to defeat the Tritons 68-56 in Los Angeles. UC San Diego’s season ended at 20-16 with only the Big West champion’s third loss in the last 12 games.

UC San Diego never led in its debut in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in its first season of eligibility, losing to Southern, 68-56, in a First Four game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Playing at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA, UCSD was trying to win its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but Southern (21-14), winless in six tournament appearances, wanted to break that streak. Whichever team prevailed faced a huge mountain to climb – UCLA,