Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Jan 11, 2023) — With less than four seconds left, junior Anya Choice blocked a three-point attempt that would have won Cal State Bakersfield the game and fellow junior Alyssa Marin drew a foul recovering the loose ball. Marin's resulting free throw earned UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball their tenth win of the season, 63-62 Wednesday night at the Thunderdome.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UCSB (10-4, 3-1 Big West) controlled the game early, building an 8-2 lead in the first five minutes and leading 16-11 at the end of the first quarter, thanks in part to sinking all of their seven free throws in the frame. The Gauchos never trailed in the first half, and after the game's first 20 minutes they held a 32-25 lead.
In the third quarter, CSU Bakersfield (4-9, 1-4 Big West) fought their way back into the game while UCSB's offense went cold. The Gauchos shot 7.7% from the field in the quarter, while the Roadrunners hit 42.9% of their field goal attempts. By the end of the frame, UCSB's lead was down to one, 40-39.
A hectic fourth quarter looked to be going the visitors' way, with CSU Bakersfield leading 61-56 with 19 seconds left. Then freshman Jessica Grant hit a three to make it a one-possession game, and after the 'Runners missed one of two free throws, Marin drew and converted three of her own to tie the score with four seconds to go. She recovered the rebound from Choice's block and hit her eighth free throw of the night to give the Gauchos the lead for good.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Senior Ila Lane led the Gauchos in scoring (20) and all players in rebounds (16) to notch her fifth double-double of the season. Her 16 boards are a season-high.
- UCSB shot 26 free throws Wednesday night, making 24 of them, their highest number of both makes and attempts since the triple overtime game against Southern Utah on November 26, when they went 32-42.
- Senior Alexis Tucker and freshman Jessica Grant joined Lane as double-digit scorers for the Gauchos, scoring 18 and 12, respectively. Grant scored all 12 of her points from behind the arc, going 4-7 from three-point range.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos hit the road for their next game, paying UC Riverside a visit on Saturday, January 14, at 6 p.m. The game will be available to watch live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on ucsbgauchos.com.
