SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team is set to start their 2024-25 campaign under newly appointed head coach Renee Jimenez. Jimenez will enter her first season at the helm of the Gaucho Women's Basketball program with opening week games against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Wednesday, Nov. 7 and University of San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 9.
A LOOK BACK
The Gauchos finished the 2023-24 season with a 16-15 overall record and going 10-10 in The Big West. The season came to a close in the opening round of The Big West Championships in Henderson, Nevada. The Gauchos fell to Long Beach State.
A LOOK AT THE GAUCHOS
Despite the head coaching change the Gauchos return 11 student-athletes from a season ago and four of their top five scorers in Alyssa Marin, Anya Choice, Skylar Burke and Jessica Grant. In total the Blue and Gold return 69 percent of their scoring from last year.
New additions include Oregon State transfer Martha Pietsch along with four freshmen in Bojana Radnjic, Karena Eberts, Arshiya Ranjitkar and Malani Mastora. All in all, Santa Barbara will roster 16 players, 11 returners and five newcomers.
SCOUTING THE ATHENAS
The Athenas are led by seventh year head coach Chanel Murchison. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps finished the 2023-24 season with a 4-21 overall record and 2-14 record in the SCIAC. Despite the fall off a season ago the Athenas will look to bounce back this season. CMS was picked eighth in the SCIAC Preseason Poll.
CMS returns 73 percent of their scoring from a season ago including both their top scorers in Tanya Ghai and Katie Resendiz. Ghai averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game a season ago while Resendiz averaged 11.4, 5.3 and 1.8.
SCOUTING THE DONS
The University of San Francisco opened up their 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4. The Dons traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado to take on Colorado State in their season opener. The Green and Gold feel 52-47 and will look to rebound against the Gauchos.
Leading the way offensively for the Dons was senior, guard, Freja Werth. She played 37 minutes scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the opener. Also a key contributor on Monday was Debora dos Santos. The forward scored eight points while cleaning up the boards with nine rebounds.
FOLLOW ALONG
For those unable to attend or make the trip to San Francisco, both games will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats also available. The Gauchos and Athenas will top off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. On Saturday, Nov. 9 Santa Barbara and San Francisco will tipoff at 3:30 p.m.
