SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team opened their 2026-27 season Tuesday night with a showing against UC Santa Cruz. The Gauchos won the match 103-26 with their first 100+ point result since 2023 and critical involvement from their four freshmen.
FROM HEAD COACH RENEE JIMENEZ
"I was just really proud of our depth. Everyone came in and did a great job," Jimenez said. "These games can always, they can sometimes be trap games, and I thought we did a great, we did a great job."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Zoe Borter opened the game with a three-point bucket just eight seconds in, assisted by Maddie Naro. Borter was also responsible for the next two points, having made a layup to make the contest 5-0. The Banana Slugs responded with five of their own and landed just two points behind the 7-5 Gaucho lead. UC Santa Barbara followed with seven straight points, five of them free throws, to make a 14-5 lead. The Banana Slugs made seven more points before the quarter was over, but the Gauchos made 11 and ended the first 25-11. Olivia Anderson picked up eight points to lead the Gaucho effort.
The second quarter was equally dominated by the Gauchos, who scored 26 points to Santa Cruz's four. Seven Gauchos contributed to the total, though Karisma Flores led in totals with seven. The quarter ended with three baskets by Flores, who made two layups and a three-point shot to bring the halftime score to 51-15.
The Gauchos opened the third by making 15 uninterrupted points, five of them made by freshman guard Sarah Heyn. Borter began the half with another signature three-pointer, making it 54-15, then the Gauchos proceeded. They reached a 66-16 lead after a free throw from Ava Albanese, then the Banana Slugs sank a three. The Gauchos ended the half ahead at 74-23. Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe led the quarter in points, sinking eight.
The Banana Slugs were held nearly scoreless in the fourth and final quarter, while the Gauchos made their highest total yet. Santa Cruz began with a free throw and a jumper three minutes in, but they would be their final points of the game. After leading 79-26, the Gauchos made 22 more points to reach triple digits for the first time since 2023. Karisma Flores reached the milestone for the Gauchos, putting in five points during the final minute of the game. The Gauchos finished the quarter 27-3 and the game 101-26.
STAT RECAP
Heyn led the offense for the Gauchos, making 17 points in her first collegiate game. She went 4-for-6 from the three-point range and also picked up four assists. Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe was second in the effort, sinking 15 points and going 6-8 in field goals. Zonzon-Huyghe also nabbed six rebounds, just one behind team rebound leaders Chauncey Andersen and Nicole Steiner, who both claimed seven.
Four more Gauchos reached double-digit scores, with Karisma Flores earning 14 in her collegiate debut. Zoe Borter and Olivia Anderson both reached 13, with Borter shooting immaculately. The senior shot 100% and included three three-point shots.
Maddie Naro was back to leading the team in assists, making six, while Mauriana-Hashemian Orr made four to follow. Hashemian-Orr also picked up three baskets from four attempts, while Charlotte Lipkina and Ava Albanese held on to five rebounds each. As a team, the Gauchos shot 61.7% overall and 56% from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos take on Pepperdine on the road on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5:00 p.m.
