HENDERSON, Nev. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball entered the Big West Championships looking to end their six game skid. The Gauchos and Beach battled it out to the very end after what looked like the Beach were going to run away with the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara continued to struggle getting going in the opening quarter. With just six points at the media timeout the Gauchos started to heat up from the field. Alyssa Marin scored the next five Gaucho points. Unfortunately after the short spurt, Long Beach State went on a run of their own and wound up leading by nine at the end of the quarter.

The Beach continued to expand their lead in the second quarter. The Gauchos were unable to find an answer for Long Beach on the defensive side of the ball. The Beach shot over 55 percent from the field and over 60 percent from three to build a 20 point lead. Alexis Whitfield was a monster throughout the first half, scoring half of the Gauchos first half points. 

Despite a 20 point deficit the Gauchos were able to cut the Long Beach lead down to single digits in the third quarter. A 9-2 run in the middle of the quarter cut the long beach lead to 14. After the teams traded baskets UC Santa Barbara went on a 13-0 run to cut the lead down to three by the quarters end. Zoe Borter threw up a prayer as time expired to cut the deficit down to one possession.

To open the fourth quarter, Alexis Whitfield hit a jumper in the paint to bring the Gauchos within one of the Beach. Unfortunately that was as close as UC Santa Barbara would get. Long Beach built their lead back to double digits just before the media timeout. Again the Gauchos would not go away as they pulled within two possessions after Anya Choice hit a jump shot to cut the Long Beach lead to five. With under a minute left the Gauchos were forced to foul and Long Beach cashed in on all their opportunities to put the Gauchos away.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Alexis Whitfield recorded her 10th double double of the season with her 30-point, 17-rebound performance. She is the second Gauchos this season to record a 30-point game (Alyssa Marin, 31 at UC Davis).
• Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield combined for 51 of the Gauchos 75 points. They also combined for 16 of the Gauchos 20 assists.
• Alexis Whitfield grabbed her 500th career rebound in the game.
• 35 of the Gauchos 71 total shots were from beyond the arc.

IN CONCLUSION
With the loss to Long Beach State the Gauchos will end the season with a 16-15 overall record and a 10-10 Big West record.