Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UCSB's (4-12, 1-1) three-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday with an 83-53 loss to UC Riverside (9-7, 2-0) in the Thunderdome.
Jasmine Ware came off the bench to lead the Gauchos in scoring and rebounding with 14 points and eight boards. The senior finished the game with 30 minutes played, as she also added a pair of steals and an assist. Je Zhé Newton added a season-high 10 points and led the game with two blocks. Together, the Gaucho bench combined for a game-high 30 points.
Onome Jemerigbe reached double figures in the scoring column for the second time in three games with 10 points. The point guard also added a team-high five assists, improving her season average to 3.1 assists per game.
In going up against one of the top offenses in the Big West, the Gauchos turned the ball over 25 times in the game, which lead to a combined 29 points for the Highlanders.
UC Riverside got off to a hot start in the game with an 8-0 run through the first 1:44. Newton was able to get the Gauchos on the board with a free throw, which sparked the team's five unanswered points. Makala Roper registered the first Gaucho field goal one possession later with a layup, and Jemerigbe capped off the run with a jump shot.
The run was the team's first step in tying the game at 20-20 by the end of the quarter. The scored nine points in the final 3:12, led by three-pointers from Jemerigbe and Roper.
Despite the slow start, the team finished the first quarter shooting 8-15 from the floor and turned the ball over just four times.
With UCSB gaining momentum towards the end of the opening period, the Highlanders to pull it back their way with a 12-2 run through the first four minutes of the second quarter. Riverside took advantage of 10 UCSB turnovers in that period and netted 12 points off those ensuing possessions. The Gauchos went on to score just five points in that quarter, as UCR took a 42-25 lead heading into halftime.
The lead proved too much for UCSB to overcome, and the Highlanders offense kept their pace from the first half and scored 41 points in the final 20 minutes. UCR had three players score double figures with Brittany Crain (33), Annelise Ito (17), and Rejane Verin (16).
UCSB will be on the road next weekend, as they will visit Cal State Fullerton (1/14) and Cal State Northridge (1/16). The team will be back home on Thursday the 21st to host UC Davis.
