HONOLULU — The No. 16 UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo team played its final Big West road contest of the season Saturday night, making the trip to a tremendously difficult place to win, Hawai'i, to face the No. 2 Rainbow Wahine. Hawai'i showed why they are ranked as one of the best teams in the country, winning 12-3. Christina Mullane scored in her return to Honolulu for the Gauchos, as did Leigh Lyter and Emily Ferguson.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's game was essentially decided by halftime, when the Rainbow Wahine led, 9-1, after Lyter had scored just two seconds before the first-half buzzer. The second half was much lower scoring, with Hawai'i netting the lone goal of the third quarter before the teams traded a pair of goals each in the final frame. The former 'Bow Mullane scored shortly after the four-minute mark in the quarter, and Ferguson tallied a minute later.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos will return to Santa Barbara for their final regular season matchup of 2024, hosting Cal State Fullerton at Santa Barbara High School on Thursday, April 18. Thursday is Senior Night, with the Gauchos and Titans set to play under the lights, starting at 7 p.m.