LA JOLLA (Jan. 23, 2015) -- Sound defensive play worked in the Coyotes favor in 64-56 win over host UC San Diego in CCAA women's basketball Saturday night.

Junior All-CCAA guard Alexcia Mack scored a game-high 20 points in 40 minutes of play, and Brianna Harden (11) and Chelsea Barnes (10) helped in a game that saw CSUSB lead the entire second half.

The Coyotes, who their fifth straight game and improved to 12-3, 8-3 CCAA, have featured a seven-player rotation this season and their starters outscored their counterparts, 54-31. Their effort on defense stopped UCSD's Jamie Katuna, who scored all 11 of her points in the first half and one of the CCAA's leading scorers Farrah Shokoor finished with six, four in the second half.

CSUSB controlled the game throughout and trailed for only 80 seconds against UCSD (9-7, 7-4). An 8-0 run highighted by a pair of Mack baskets pulled the Coyotes to a 21-13 lead with 7:07 left in the first half. The Tritons cut the lead to four on three occasions to close the half, but CSUSB answered each time and took a 36-27 lead at the break with Chelsea Austin hitting a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left.

The second half completely belonged to the Coyotes, who put the game in complete control after a pair of Shokoor free throws with 11:45 left and CSUSB up 44-41.

Mack and Austin stopped any momentum from UCSD with a 3-pointer on each of the Coyotes' next two possessions and UCSD never got closer than seven the rest of the way. CSUSB gained its largest lead on Mack's free throw that made the score 63-50 with 1:26 remaining.

Austin finished with nine points off the bench, while Barnes earned her second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds.

Senior Briana Baker had seven points, five rebounds and six assists, while junior Adriana Brodie had six points with five boards before fouling out. Bisera Peshkova played 22 minutes off the bench and accounted for the Coyotes' other point.

Katuna was the only Triton to reach double figures.

The Coyotes finish the first half of CCAA play Saturday night at Cal Poly Pomona.