IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team dropped their Thursday night matchup against UC Irvine, 60-38. The Anteater defense was too much for the Gauchos.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos and Anteaters played a tightly contested opening quarter that ended with UC Irvine leading by four. After Irvine opened the game on a 6-0 run the Gauchos fought back a pulled within one with under a minute to play in the first quarter. An and-one layup and free throw gave the Anteaters a four-point lead after one.

The Gauchos stayed within two possessions of UC Irvine for the majority of the period but could not get over the hump to pull any closer. UC Santa Barbara continued to struggle from the floor while UC Irvine found their rhythm. The Anteaters ended the half on a 13-8 run and took a nine-point lead into the break.

The Gauchos could not find the stop or momentum shift they needed in the third. UC Irvine opened the quarter on an 11-1 run and would extend and maintain the lead throughout the second half. Mary McMorris also tried to make her presence felt by playing strong defense and posting six points while dishing out two assists.

Jessica Grant hit a couple of three-point shots to try and get the Gauchos back into the game but it was too little, too late. Mary McMorris also tried to make her presence felt and brought energy to the defensive end of the floor playing strong defense and posting six points while dishing out two assists on the offensive end. UC Santa Barbara fell 60-38.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Laurel Rockwood played a career-high 31 minutes for the Gauchos while grabbing a season-high and career-tying eight rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
• The Gauchos were nearly perfect from the charity stripe shooting 9-of-10 from the line.
• Jessica Grant led the team in scoring with 10 points in the contest.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will wrap up their two-game road trip on Saturday, Feb. 10 when they travel to CSUN. The Gauchos and Matadors will tipoff at 2 p.m. in Northridge, Calif.