SAN DIEGO - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team fell to the UNLV Lady Rebels in their opening game of The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic. The Gauchos struggled from outside shooting just .158 from three. While the Gauchos kept the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year in check, the collective inside presence by the Lady Rebels was too much for UC Santa Barbara.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Rebels opened up the game on a 10-0 run and would maintain that margin throughout the opening period. The Gauchos got their deficit down to single digits a handful of times but could not get the stops or scores they needed to bring the game any closer. Anya Choice hit three of the four baskets to get the lead down to single-digits but a jumper and a couple free throws at the end of the first quarter brought the Lady Rebel lead back up to 13. 

UNLV grew their lead to 16 in the second quarter but the Gauchos continued to grind out possessions and slowly claw into the lead. After not hitting a single three-pointer in the first quarter the Gauchos got their first by Alexis Whitfield at the six minute mark in the second quarter. After some back-and-forth the Gauchos scored at least one point on their last four possessions of the period to go to halftime down 11 and momentum slowly getting back on their side. 

Out of half UC Santa Barbara missed a couple key open shots leading to a 7-0 UNLV run forcing the Gauchos to take a timeout. A scoring drought then plagued both teams with neither side scoring for over two and a half minutes. The Gauchos would end their drought with a basket by Whitfield, followed by Laurel Rockwood making one of two free throws and Choice ending the period with a jumper in the paint. 

As the teams entered the final quarter of play, Santa Barbara got some momentum from Jessica Grant and Zoe Borter off the bench. Grant's three-pointer was the Gauchos first basket in the period. The basket also made it her fourth consecutive game making at least one three-point shot. Zoe Borter subbed in just before the under-five minute media time out and made an immediate impact. She hit a three-pointer and made jumper to record a season-high five points in the game.

Santa Barbara was unable to mount a comeback and fell to UNLV 68-49.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Jessica Grant made at least one three-pointer for the fourth consecutive game. Her third time with a stretch of four or more games.
• Zoe Borter recorded a season-high five points, her previous high was three.
• The Gauchos held the Lady Rebels to a season-low 68 points. UNLV was averaging 87.5 points per game coming into the contest. 
• The Santa Barbara defense also held, Desi-Rae Young to a season-low 10 points. Young was named to the Lisa Leslie award watch list in October.
• Anya Choice surpassed 500 career points in her 12-point performance. 

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will have a quick turnaround as they play Weber State tomorrow at 2 p.m. The game will be played in San Diego at the Jenny Craig Pavilion located on the campus of the University of San Diego.