SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team won their fourth straight Big West game and continues to sit atop the conference standings. Four Gauchos scored in double figures with Skylar Burke and Alexis Whitfield recording double-doubles. 

FROM HEAD COACH BONNIE HENRICKSON
"I thought defensively we were really good," said Henrickson. "When we get that many stops we get to be in our motion offense and not just have to get into quick hits. We had some good stretches, but then some sloppy stretches. Overall defensively we were really good though. We were disruptive and got out in transition."

HOW IT HAPPENED
A sluggish start by the Gauchos quickly turned into a three-point shooting contest for the Gauchos. During the opening minutes, UC Santa Barbara and CSUN would go back and forth with neither side being able to make a run early on. In the late stages of the opening quarter, the Gauchos got hot. Alyssa Marin hit back-to-back three-pointers before making both her free-throw shots later in the period. Mary McMorris capped off a 12-1 Gaucho run to put them up 10 after the first. 

From there the Gauchos would fire on all cylinders stretching their lead by as much as 25 in the second quarter. Jessica Grant scored eight points in the quarter while Anya Choice and Alexis Whitfield each added five. By the time the teams would head to halftime UC Santa Barbara would lead by 20.

It was more of the same from the Gauchos as they returned to the floor. A slow start out of the break but by the time the quarter came to a close UC Santa Barbara would lead by 23. Jessica Grant did not slow down as she added six more points to her ledger in the quarter. In total, the Gauchos made four three-pointers in the quarter to extend their lead. 

The Gauchos did not slow down as they continued to get stops on the defensive end and score at will on the offensive side. The Gaucho lead was never in doubt as they would stretch it to as much as 34 in the final minutes. Zoe Borter and Kathleen Hutchens finished the scoring off for the Gauchos en route to winning their fourth straight game. 

WORDS FROM THE STUDENT-ATHLETES
Burke on being in first place: "It's exciting being in first place, but we can't let that affect us in any way. We just have to continue to take it game-by-game and play-by-play. We come into every game with the same mindset and same grind along with the desire to win."

Grant on shooting three-pointers: "Pressure is a privilege and I am lucky to have teammates that push me. They believe in me even when my percentage isn't as good."

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Skylar Burke recorded the first double-double of her career as she scored 13 points and grabbed just as many rebounds.
• Alexis Whitfield recorded her sixth double-double of the season scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. 
• UC Santa Barbara grabbed a season-high 52 rebounds in the win. 
• For the second time this season, the Gauchos shot 90 percent or better from the charity stripe.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will travel to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. For those unable to attend the game will be streamed through ESPN+ with live stats available.