SAN DIEGO - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team picked up a bounce-back win against Weber State on Saturday afternoon. Mary McMorris put on a shooting clinic going 8-for-11 from the floor and posting a career-high 20 points in the win.

FROM HEAD COACH BONNIE HENRICKSON
Thoughts on the game: "We were able to bounce back after a tough game yesterday," said Henrickson. "I thought we made some really good plays and then we would come down the floor and turn it over, but we were able to calm down after they made it a one-point game and then went on a run to make it an eleven-point game after some successive possessions where we got positive plays."

On McMorris' career day: "I thought Mary was really good," explained Henrickson. "Yesterday was as good as she has been on defense, being disruptive and not letting players get to where they want to go. Additionally, she has a good little mid-range game. She was also able to get out in transition and make plays for us passing the ball."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos and Wildcats started the game trading baskets for the first five minutes, but after the Wildcats made a jumper in the lane UC Santa Barbara went on an 8-0 run to take a nine-point lead. Three-pointers by Anya Choice and Alyssa Marin moved the lead to seven. After a couple of defensive stops, Zoe Borter would drill two free throws to put the Gauchos up nine with a minus and a half to go in the opening quarter. The teams traded buckets before the quarter ended with the Gauchos leading by seven.

After a couple of baskets by each team, the Wildcat brought the score to within two points. UC Santa Barbara did not let Weber State tie the game or take the lead after coming within one possession. Anya Choice and Mary McMorris started to find their groove on the offensive end going a combined three-for-three totaling eight points to help build the Gaucho lead up to five before halftime. 

Out of the break Choice and McMorris picked up right where they left off. The duo combined for 10 of Santa Barbara's 17 points in the quarter. Choice hit a jumper to extend the lead to eight points, but Weber State then went on a 7-0 run to cut the Gaucho lead to one, forcing Santa Barbara to call a timeout. After quick adjustments, UC Santa Barbara went on a 10-0 run to end the third quarter and head to the fourth up 11. McMorris led the way scoring five points with Alexis Whitfield adding three during the run as well.

McMorris couldn't miss hitting her first shot of the quarter to give the Gauchos their largest lead of the game, going up by 13. Although the shot by McMorris was the only shot made in the quarter by UC Santa Barbara, the Gauchos were nails from the free-throw line going 7-for-8. The defense also did their part keeping the Wildcats off the board holding them to just 10 points. The Gauchos walked away with a 61-51 victory. 

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Mary McMorris dropped a career-high 20 points and led all scorers in the game. 
• Anya Choice missed her first three-pointer at the seven-minute mark in the third quarter. She was 4-for-4 before the miss.
• The Gauchos allowed a season-low 51 points in the win. 
• UC Santa Barbara is now 2-0 after a loss. 
• This was the first time Santa Barbara outrebounded their opponents this season.
• For the third straight game, the Gauchos have recorded three or more blocks in the contest.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will return home as they play host to UC Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz will tip off at 7 p.m. inside The Thunderdome. For those unable to attend in person the game will be streamed through ESPN+ with live stats also available through ucsbgauchos.com