NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team earned a 64-60 victory over CSUN to improve to 9-4 in Big West action and keep pace in The Big West standings. With the win, UC Santa Barbara improved to 7-1 following a loss on the 2023-24 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos started off the game firing on all cylinders, scoring in four of their first five possessions going up 8-3 early. The Matadors fought back with a 6-0 run but Santa Barbara answered with a six point run of their own. To regain the lead. From there the Gauchos never surrendered the lead for the remainder for the opening quarter. CSUN tied the game a few times but never took the lead over.

Santa Barbara extended their lead to as much as nine in the second quarter. CSUN again would not go away as they cut the lead to two before the break. In the quarter, Zoe Borter scored nearly half the Gauchos points with six of their 13 in the period.

Coming out of halftime, the Matadors held possession of the ball and tied the game up on the opening possession. They then took the lead which started a back and forth third quarter. There were two lead changes and two ties in the quarter but UC Santa Barbara ultimately pulled out ahead when the third period came to a close. The Gauchos went on a 7-0 run to close out the quarter, spearheaded by Alexis Whitfield.

The Gauchos continued their run into there final quarter taking a 10 point lead with nine minutes to play. CSUN again battled back and cut the lead to two with under a minute to play. Down the stretch the Gauchos went 6-for-6 from the stripe to seal the game and earn their seventh bounce back win.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• For the third game in a row Jessica Grant hit multiple three-pointers in the game. She finished 5-for-12 from deep and tallied 17 points. She also grabbed a season-high six rebounds.
• With Alyssa Marin sidelined, Mary McMorris got her first start as a Gauchos. She played 34 minutes, scoring five points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out eight assists.
• The Gauchos recorded 14 total assists in the game and have had double digit assists in four of their last five games.

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will return to the Thunderdome on Thursday, Feb. 15 as they host UC San Diego. The Gauchos and Tritons will will tipoff at 7 p.m.