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Anaheim, Calif. - Finding itself in a familiar predicament - trailing Pacific at halftime - the UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team rallied to defeat the Tigers 64-53 Saturday and place itself in another environment the Gauchos are well-accustomed to - playing in the NCAA Tournament.

UCSB overcame a 24-22 deficit at the break to win its unprecedented sixth consecutive Big West Conference Tournament title, earning the league's automatic bid into the Big Dance for the eighth time in program history. The Gauchos, boasting a 25-5 overall record, will take the nation's second-longest winning streak of 21 games into next week's NCAA tourney. Santa Barbara has now advanced to postseason play for six straight seasons, and nine of the past 11 years.

Meanwhile UOP, which held a halftime lead on Santa Barbara in the last five meetings between the two schools, finishes with a 19-11 record and awaits a possible Women's National Invitation Tournament berth.

However the Gauchos postseason fate was not sealed until late in the championship game showdown against UOP. Top-seeded UCSB erased its halftime disadvantage with six straight points to open the second period of play, but No. 3 Pacific stormed back and held a 36-31 lead following a layup by sophomore center Gillian d'Hondt at the 13:14 mark. At that point Santa Barbara reeled of nine-straight points, tying the game when freshman forward Brandy Richardson grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled on the put-back, and sunk the ensuing free-throw.

The Big West champs could not build a lead greater than five points, and Pacific sophomore guard Nancy Dinges pulled her squad within 46-45 after nailing a long-range three-pointer with 6:49 to play. After both teams failed to convert on their next possessions, freshman forward Kristen Mann hit a running layup and rookie guard Mia Fisher made a pair of free throws to make the score a more comfortable 50-45 with 4:38 showing on the scoreboard clock. d'Hondt answered with a layup on the next trip down the court, however the Tigers then turned the ball over three times over the final 3:39. Meanwhile UCSB junior guard Jess Hansen made her only field goal of the game and buried six-of-seven free-throws during the aforementioned span. As a team, the Gauchos went 14-of-16 from the charity stripe in the second half.

Santa Barbara's field goal shooting before halftime was another story, as UCSB made just eight-of-28 (28.6%) from the floor to fall behind early. The Tigers twice pulled ahead by six points following three-point bombs, while Dinges gave her team its 24-22 cushion at intermission with yet another basket from behind the arc. UOP shot 40.9% before the break.

However the Gauchos were able to stay close by hitting five-of-six free-throws and only committing seven turnovers compared to their opponents1 10. UCSB1s 11 miscues for the entire game established a new season-low in that category.

"I am proud of the team because we weren't shooting well but continued to play good defense," UCSB Head Coach Mark French said. "We kept our turnovers down, which was critical. We only had 11 turnovers and that was a big step up for us and something I hope continues into the NCAA Tournament."

Senior forward Kayte Christensen, who picked up two fouls within the first three minutes of the game, scored 12 of her game-high 14 points after halftime and also grabbed eight rebounds.

While Christensen was named to the all-tourney team, sophomore center Lindsay Taylor capped her exceptional three-game run with 12 points and eight boards Saturday to solidify Big West Tournament MVP honors. The Chandler, Ariz., native repeated as an all-tourney selection after averaging 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds during her stay in Anaheim. She has now reached the double-digit scoring plateau in eight straight contests.

Despite going one-for-nine from the floor, Hansen made a career-best nine free-throws on 10 attempts to finish with 11 points, and also dished off a game-high seven assists. Mann was another Gaucho to step up in the second half, scoring all but two of her 10 points after emerging from the locker room.

UCSB will learn where it will be sent by the NCAA Tournament committee - and who its first round opponent will be - Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The tourney selection show will be televised live by ESPN, channel 34 in Santa Barbara.