HENDERSON, Nev. – The No. 6 UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team took on No. 7 UC Riverside in the first round of the Big West Championships on Wednesday. Despite maintaining a close game with the Highlanders, the Gauchos fell 58-53.
FROM HEAD COACH RENEE JIMENEZ
"I'm really proud of our group for the resilience they showed," Jimenez said. "But we have got to go down the stretch. We've got to be able to dig our heels in and get stops."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Riverside claimed the tip off and the first two points, but it wasn't long before Olivia Bradley leveled it 2-2. Riverside followed up with a couple more baskets, but Skylar Burke nailed a three to tie it once more at 9-9. Zoe Borter, who shot 100% in free throws for the game, then made two from the stripe to get a Gaucho lead at 11-9. Riverside ramped up their efforts, however, and exited the first quarter up by four at 17-13.
Riverside extended their lead in the second period, getting six points ahead at 22-16. But, six points in a row from the Gauchos leveled the game at 22-22. Both teams then made two free throws to make it 24-24 at the half.
The Gauchos came into the second half invigorated, and Bradley laid down seven straight points to put Santa Barbara up 33-26. The Gauchos led by nine at 35-26 and 39-30 before the Highlanders began to make up ground. With four minutes left, UC Riverside made 13 points to Santa Barbara's three, and the Highlanders finished the third up by one at 43-42.
Burke put four points in to start the fourth, getting the Gauchos up 46-43. The game deadlocked at 46-46 and 48-48, and the Gauchos saw their final lead at 50-49. From there, Riverside made nine points, a tally that would win them the game. The Gauchos added three free throws, but the Highlanders would take the first round match up 58-53.
Bradley had an invaluable performance, procuring 23 points while shooting 58%. Bradley also drowned a career-high of eight free throws. The Gauchos shot 94.7% from the line, making 18 of 19 attempts.
Zoe Borter also achieved double-digits, making 12 and going 5-5 in free throws. Skylar Burke established a career-best three blocks and reached 550 career rebounds after nabbing five. Chauncey Andersen led the Gauchos in rebounds with nine and Burke led in assists with five.
