Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Thursday, Nov. 26, 2022)— The UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team (1-0) tipped off the 2022-23 season with a road win Monday night as the Gauchos topped Santa Clara (0-1) 73-61. UCSB outscored the Broncos in each of the first three quarters and kept the home team at bay in the fourth to get the year started on a high note.
UCSB's athleticism was apparent in its first time out on the floor, making it tough for SCU to get in to system, get rebounds, and bring the ball up the floor. The Gauchos continuously drove the paint with their guards making it a tough, physical competition and ultimately playing spoiler in the Broncos' home opener.
On the Stat Sheet
- The Gauchos outshot Santa Clara 45.2% to 36.7%, won the rebound battle 40 to 31, won the points in the paint battle 42 to 30, and held the team to just 14.3% shooting from the three-point line.
- Four Gaucho starters ended the game in double-figures led by Ila Lane who poured in 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and completed the double-double with 11 rebounds.
- Anya Choice had 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting with two threes and added four rebounds and three assists. Alexis Tucker had a 13-point, seven-rebound performance, and Taylor Mole got to 10 points nailing a pair of triples.
- Alyssa Marin led all players with five assists and Callie Cooper went for six points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
- UCSB led for 33 minutes of the contest and stretched its lead out to as many as 21 points in the third quarter.
How it Happened
- The Broncos jumped out to an early lead thanks to second chance efforts but the Gauchos quickly found their footing and began playing like team assisting on six of their eight buckets in the period. A steal by Kennedy Johnson and a second chance layup on the ensuing fast break by Cooper gave UCSB a 9-8 lead. Santa Clara grabbed the lead back a few possessions later, freshman Jessica Grant cashed her first collegiate three-pointer giving her a 16-14 lead that it would hold onto for the rest of the evening.
- UCSB broke away in the second quarter outscoring SCU 23-14 in the second quarter, which was the biggest differential of the night. Outshooting the Broncos 52.9% to 30.8%, the Gauchos went on a 14-1 run and went into the half up 41-28.
- The third period saw UCSB quickly extend its lead thanks to back-to-back threes by Mole in the early going and with five minutes to go a layup by Tatyana Modawar stretched the lead out to 21 points. A few key buckets in the paint in a late run for the Broncos kept the game closer by periods end at 59-43.
- Santa Clara refused to quit chipping away at the Gaucho lead and nearly bringing it down to single digits but UCSB managed to limit big plays and hit 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch to maintain the win.
Up Next
UCSB's home opener is scheduled for this Thursday as Pepperdine (0-1) visits the Thunderdome. The game marks Fansgiving, the team's canned food drive. Any fan that brings a canned food item will receive a free ticket.
