STOCKTON, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team fell in their final road contests before returning home for a four-game homestand against Pacific, 72-61.
FROM HEAD COACH BONNIE HENRICKSO
"We struggled on both ends of the floor, mostly offensively but we made a run in the second half and made it a game, but then broke down again defensively," said Henrickson. "Our shot selection wasn't great, our ball movement wasn't great which then turns into the results we got tonight. Foul trouble also impacted us. Jessica Grant was good and a great night for her. They (Pacific) put their best defender on here so credit to here."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Gauchos and Tigers broke the ice after a minute and 15 seconds of gameplay, the two teams would exchange baskets and leads. At the five-minute mark mark in the opening period Pacific went on a 10-4 run to take a 17-11 lead. Pacific hung onto the lead for the remainder of the period.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the second quarter opening it on a 6-2 run. Both defenses were stifling in the second quarter with the two teams combining for 19 points. The Gauchos forced 10 turnovers in the first two quarters but couldn't capitalize on it scoring just nine points off turnovers. UC Santa Barbara would head to the locker room trailing 31-19.
Out of halftime, UC Santa Barbara came out firing on all cylinders forcing Pacific to take an early timeout after a 13-5 run got them within four. After the timeout, both teams traded baskets. Jessica Grant led the charge for the Gauchos making three of her five three-pointers in the quarter. Santa Barbara shot over 70 percent from the floor and 80 percent from three to cut the lead to single digits. The Gauchos cut the lead to three with under 10 seconds left in the third but a costly foul with 0.7 seconds left in the period gave Pacific a four-point play and the Tigers grew their lead to seven in a blink of an eye.
The Tigers maintained the lead throughout the fourth quarter not allowing Santa Barbara to pull within one possession again and the Gauchos ultimately fell 72-61.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
- Alexis Whitfield recorded her fourth double-double of the season with her 20-point, 10-rebound performance.
- Jessica Grant played a season-high 28 minutes. She also scored a career-high 17 points going 6-for-10 from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
- The teams combined for 40 fouls throughout the contest.
- UC Santa Barbara outscored the Tigers in the Paint, off the bench, and scored more points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will return home for a four-game homestand starting on Sunday, Dec. 17 as they host Loyola Marymount in The Thunderdome. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Gauchos will be hosting a Toy Drive for this game. Any fan that donates an unused/unopened toy will be given a ticket voucher that is good for ONE ticket per person for TWO upcoming basketball games.
