RIVERSIDE, Calif. – After falling short against the Highlanders earlier this month, the UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team overran UC Riverside 61-57 on the road Thursday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Zoe Borter was the first to score, powering a three point shot to put the Gauchos up. Three minutes later, Chauncey Andersen followed with the second bucket of the game, giving the Gauchos an early 5-0 lead. They stayed ahead until Riverside leveled at 10-10. In the final four minutes, the Highlanders produced five more points and ended ahead 15-13 at the buzzer.
Skylar Burke immediately tied the result with two free throws, then the Gauchos pulled ahead. Three layups by Burke and a distant three by Maddie Naro put Santa Barbara ahead at 24-19. Riverside matched at 24-24, but Olivia Bradley put in five points and the Gauchos entered the half with the advantage at 29-26.
Naro registered another distance shot and Bradley another seven points to have the Gauchos ahead at 39-34. The Highlanders approached at 41-40, but Jessica Grant landed a three-pointer to cushion the score. With the shot, she is tied for third in the program's all-time career three pointers scored at 215 and one away from second all-time.
The Gauchos left the third ahead by four at 46-42 after Olivia Bradley put through another two points, the forward now possessing 14 points.
Riverside threatened the Gauchos position in the fourth, eventually tying it at 54-54. Santa Barbara had made a seven-point differential at 51-46 thanks to Naro's third three, but the Highlanders were able to catch up. With just two minutes left, the Gauchos faced having their 30-minute lead nullified. Borter sank two, but three-time Big West Player of the Week Hannah Wickstrom pocketed a free throw to make it a one point game.
A final three-pointer by Naro and two-more free throws by Burke, however, would be what the Gauchos needed to clinch the win. They finished 61-57 to beat Riverside for the first time in five games.
For the second game in a row, Skylar Burke made the most Gaucho points, entering 15 and doing so primarily from driving layups. Three more Gauchos hit double digits, with Bradley, Naro, and Borter dishing 14, 12, and 10.
Burke achieved a double-double on the night after also leading the team in rebounds with 12. Borter carried the assists with four, while Maddie Naro snatched three steals.
UP NEXT
Santa Barbara will host UC Irvine and celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m. The senior ceremony will take place before the game.
The Gauchos will play their final game of the regular season on March 7 in La Jolla against UC San Diego.
