SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Basketball team got back to their winning ways as they took down rival Cal Poly, 65-64 in overtime. Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield led the way scoring 19 points each and helping the Gauchos jump up in The Big West standings.

FROM HEAD COACH BONNIE HENRICKSON
"That was a tough one after our loss at UC San Diego. It's tough because it is a rivalry game full of energy, passion and pride. We also have to be more disciplined, but defensively we were good, we just struggle once we get out of our offense, it looks like five games of one-on-one."

HOW IT HAPPENED 
UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly traded baskets in the opening minutes but Cal Poly would start to pull away after a 9-2 scoring run put them up 12-5. The Gauchos dug in defensively and got back in the game pulling within two points after a Skylar Burke made three. That was as close as they would get in the quarter as they trailed going to the second frame. 

In the second quarter, the Gauchos started to find their rhythm offensively. Skylar Burke, Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield led the charge in the period for UC Santa Barbara as they were the only three to record points in the frame. Burke and Marin had nine apiece while Whitfield added six helping the Gauchos outscore Cal Poly 20-14 and take a two-point lead into halftime.

The second half was a defensive battle between the two teams. The Gauchos were limited to just 19 points while Cal Poly only scored 21. The three Gaucho seniors, Anya Choice, Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield combined for 18 of the 19 points. As time was winding down in the fourth quarter Santa Barbara was fouled twice and made three of the four shots to tie the game and send it to overtime.

The Mustangs gained an early edge in the extra period going up four with three and a half minutes remaining. After the teams traded baskets UC Santa Barbara went on a 5-0 run to close out the period and win the game. Alexis Whitfield was fouled with 1.8 seconds left and made one of her two free throws to help the Gauchos to a third Big West victory.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Alyssa Marin played in all but 43 seconds of the game. She recorded a team-high 19 points while adding four rebounds and five assists to her stat line.
• Marin was also a perfect 7-for-7 at the charity stripe.
• Laurel Rockwood gave the Gauchos 31 solid minutes in the game as she scored five points while grabbing three rebounds.
• With the win, UC Santa Barbara improves to 2-0 in overtime games.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will hit the road for two games next week beginning with a trip to Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan. 11. The game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. in Bakersfield, Calif.