SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team improved to 2-0 at home after successfully defending its home court. Anya Choice, Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield each scored in double figures in the Gauchos 71-61 win over Southern Utah. 

FROM HEAD COACH BONNIE HENRICKSON
On the different personnel this year from previous years: "Alexis Whitfield has done a good job at the five, but Laurel Rockwood and Flora Goed play 30 minutes inside," explained Henrickson. "To play Whitfield at the five for 40 minutes isn't going to be good for us so we need those two defensively. Now there are times we can play small and play fast but we need those two all year."

On the importance of rebounding and forcing turnovers: "Rebounding is going to be big for us all year because The Big West is full of good post players," said Henrickson. "We are getting ready to go play a player on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List on UNLV. Post defense starts with ball pressure, if we don't pressure the ball it's a quick pivot and a score."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos and Thunderbirds battled in a back-and-forth affair during the opening period of play. After the Gauchos jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, Southern Utah got their first shot to fall which jumpstarted an 8-0 run. Both teams continued to trade baskets, neither growing a lead by more than five points. With under 10 seconds left in the opening frame, Mary McMorris forced a turnover and found Alexis Whitfield for an easy layup to pull within one score as time expired. 

Coming out of the quarter break the teams continued to trade baskets with neither gaining a big edge. After falling behind by five, the Gaucho offense found their footing in the middle stretch of the quarter and ultimately went on a 7-0 run to end the half and take a three-point lead to the locker room. The Gauchos forced four turnovers with under three minutes left to help them gain the lead. Two baskets by Anya Choice spurred the run.

UC Santa Barbara carried that momentum out of halftime growing their lead to 12 points, twice. With just over two minutes left in the quarter, Skylar Burke got out on the fast break and made a layup to put the Gauchos up 12. The Thunderbirds tried to get back in the game but after two made baskets the Gauchos got them back with jumpsuits by Whitfield and Burke.

The Gauchos continued to build on their lead in the fourth growing it to as much 15 points. After the teams traded the next couple of baskets, Southern Utah went on an 8-0 run just before the under-five-minute media timeout to pull within six points. The Gauchos stayed poised and kept their lead by two or more possessions for the remainder of the game, ultimately finishing with a 71-61 victory.

FROM THE STUDENT-ATHLETES
Anya Choice on staying out of foul trouble and getting after it on the defensive end of the floor: "That was one of the goals coming into the game, I told Coach Bonnie I wasn't going to get into foul trouble," said Choice. "I was going to keep my hands back and not get the ticky-tac fouls and play smart so I could stay in the game."

Skylar Burke on acrobatic layup: "I was in the corner and they swung me the ball, I knew #34 was closing out hard on me so I gave her a pump fake and saw my lane baseline," said Burke. I then saw #22 coming over and I didn't want to get another charge called on me so I kind of swung around here and finished."

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Alexis Whitfield recorded her second double-double of the season after dropping 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Of her 13 second-half points, nine came in the fourth quarter.
• Senior, Anya Choice scored a season-high 12 points. Seven of her 12 came in the first half.
• The Gauchos have recorded five blocks in two of their three games so far this season.
• UC Santa Barbara held Southern Utah to under 27 percent shooting from three while the Thunderbirds also shot it at a 50% clip from the free-throw line.

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will take a trip south to San Diego, Calif. as they will compete in The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by the University of San Diego. The Gauchos will open the Classic against UNLV which is currently receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.