PHOENIX, Ariz. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team (5-3) had an unstoppable second half performance as they wrapped up the GCU Women's Thanksgiving Classic with a victory over Seattle University 72-62. Zoe Borter had a career night with 22 points going 4-for-7 on three-point field goals.

FROM HEAD COACH RENEE JIMENEZ
"I am proud of our team, we played two really tough teams on the road and came away with a split," said Jimenez. "Our group showed a lot of resilience when our backs were against the wall."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redhawks took the early lead and would hold it throughout the entire first quarter. Anya Choice got Santa Barbara on the board with a three-point field goal. The next four minutes would remain mostly scoreless as the next field goal didn't come until the four minute mark and Seattle doubled their lead. That is when the Gauchos stepped on the gas. Skylar Burke, Kanani Coon and Alyssa Marin put in the work in the paint to pull within one point of the Redhawks as the first quarter ended 15-16. 

Santa Barbara found the lead to start the second quarter with Zoe Borter's first three-pointer. They only extended it further from there with help from Martha Pietsch bringing the Gauchos the lead at 26-20. Success on the three-point line for the Redhawks would make it a tie game with four minutes to go in the half. Seattle didn't let the Gauchos find any further points before halftime as the Redhawks took the lead again 35-28. 

Borter and Pietsch orchestrated the comeback for Santa Barbara in the third quarter. Borter kicked off the best quarter of her career with a jumper. Just when Seattle took the double-digit lead, Borter and Peitsch would not let them get very far as they came up with nine points combined, all from the three-point line. From there, it was a battle to maintain the lead and it didn't take the Gauchos very long to do so, going on 19-2 run in four minutes. Jessica Grant extended the lead adding the sixth three-pointer of the third quarter for the Gauchos. A near perfect quarter for Santa Barbara ended with a 56-49 lead for the Gauchos.

The Blue and Gold would only further their third quarter success as they allowed Seattle no field goals for eight minutes in the fourth quarter and brought up their lead to double digits with five minutes left. Burke found the most points in the last quarter with three shots made in the paint. Marin went 5-for-6 on the line in the final minutes as the Gauchos secured the 72-62 comeback win. 

UP NEXT 
UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball travels to LionTree Arena at UC San Diego this Thursday at 7 p.m. for their first Big West matchup of the season. For those unable to attend, the contest will be streamed on ESPN+.