This post was updated Feb. 6 at 11:24 p.m.

The Bruins clinched the Triton Invitational title this weekend with game-changing plays in critical moments.

No. 3 UCLA women’s water polo (8-0) beat No. 5 Fresno State (8-3) on Sunday afternoon 10-8 to win the Triton Invitational in San Diego. To qualify for the final, UCLA beat California Baptist (1-7), No. 14 Arizona State (7-1) and No. 4 Hawai’i (8-1) on Friday and Saturday.

The Bruins found quick success in the first round of the tournament against the Lancers. Twelve different players contributed to the scoreboard in the 19-4 win, including a 5-0 run the final quarter of the match.

The Bruins faltered most this weekend against the Rainbow Wahine during the semifinals, in which they ended the first quarter down 5-0 and were down 11-8 heading into the fourth quarter.

“It was a battle throughout the entire game,” said senior attacker Malia Allen. “We try not to let the noise on the outside affect how we play as a team.”

UCLA pulled out the win against Hawai’i in double overtime with the winning goal from graduate student attacker Hannah Palmer – the goal needed to complete her first hat trick of the season.

“We really honed in on our fitness, that’s something we’ve been really focusing on the past couple of weeks,” Palmer said. “Being the most fit team, being able to outswim anybody or outplay anybody for longer periods of time has really been our goal.”

After watching No. 1 USC fall to Fresno State in the semifinals, the Bruins prepared to take on the Bulldogs and avenge last year’s loss to the Trojans in the finals of the same tournament.

“Fresno State is really well coached. Their coach is an ex-Bruin, so there’s Bruin ties there,” Palmer said. “You can tell they really want it, and they’re a really strong team.”

A combination of veteran and novice contributions led to the Bruins’ win, with both Allen and sophomore utility Anna Pearson scoring three goals each. Allen assisted Pearson in the final goal of the game with just over a minute left in the period.

Even with the win, coach Adam Wright said the team hopes to improve on taking advantage of more power plays.

“We were 4-for-15 (attempted shots) on 6-on-5, and we need to be better there,” Wright said. “If we’re better there, the game can go in so many different directions.”

Following its win of the Triton Invitational, UCLA is now one of two undefeated ranked teams left, along with No. 15 Indiana University.

“For us, the biggest thing is that we have an opportunity to grow,” Wright said. “What we did this weekend against really good teams is a big positive, but we can be a lot sharper and a lot better.”

The Bruins will return to Westwood for their first home game of the season against No. 6 UC Irvine on Saturday.