IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced their 2025-26 Women's Basketball awards Tuesday, naming three Gauchos in the honors. Zoe Borter was elected to The Big West Second Team, while Olivia Bradley and Skylar Burke earned Honorable Mentions.
Borter averaged 15.1 points per game and shot .429 overall. She led the team in points for 10 games and made 20+ points in eight. She shot .413 from three to rank first in the Big West and 26th in the nation. Borter reached a career high in six categories this season, including a high of 25 points against Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 6 and nine made field goals versus Eastern Washington on Dec. 18.
Olivia Bradley holds the highest Gaucho single-game point tally this season at 27 points against Bakersfield on Jan. 26. She averaged 12.1 points per game and shot 47.6% overall for the highest field goal percentage on the team. She also led the team in total rebounds with 165 and rebounds per game at 5.7. Bradley ended the season ranked in the Big West for four statistical categories.
Skylar Burke led the Gauchos in points for two games of the regular season and achieved a double double against UC Riverside with 15 points and 12 rebounds. She shot 42.3% overall and averaged 5.4 rebounds per game. Burke's veteran defense anchored the Gauchos and led them to the fifth best three-point defense in the country.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's basketball team will travel to Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada to compete in the 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Basketball Championships. The No. 6 seed Gauchos will open postseason play Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against No. 7 seed UC Riverside.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Santa Barbara came up short in its regular-season finale, falling 72-65 to UC San Diego Tritons. Borter led the Gauchos offensively, shooting 80 percent and finishing with 21 points for her eighth 20+ point performance of the season. Junior Maddie Naro also reached a milestone in the contest, recording her 250th career assist.
EYEING THE HIGHLANDERS
UC Riverside enters the conference tournament with an 8-12 Big West record, finishing seventh in the standings. The Highlanders head to Henderson following an 89-56 loss to Hawai?i in their final home game of the regular season. Hannah Wickstrom has continued to be a key presence for UC Riverside, leading the team in both points and rebounds as the Highlanders prepare for postseason play.
FOLLOW ALONG
The 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Basketball Championships will feature 16 Big West teams competing in 14 games over four days, with the winners earning the conference's automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.
Wednesday's matchup is scheduled to tip off at 2:30 PM and will be available to watch on ESPN+ and live stats.
