URGENT UPDATE: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team faces continued challenges after suffering a 69-62 defeat to UC Riverside at the Thunderdome on February 2, 2024. This marks the Gauchos’ fourth loss in their last five games, deepening their struggles in the Big West Conference.
Coach Renee Jimenez expressed frustration over the team’s defensive failures, stating, “I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close. To give them a 24-point second quarter and a 21-point fourth quarter is really frustrating. We’re better than that.”
The loss leaves UCSB (16-7, 8-6 Big West) in fifth place, now three games behind fourth place, with only seven games remaining before the Big West Tournament. Only the top four teams receive a first-round bye.
Despite Riverside’s (8-16, 6-8 Big West) overall shooting percentage of just 42.1%, they capitalized on crucial moments, making 9-of-16 shots in the second quarter and 6-of-11 in the fourth. Sophomore Hannah Wickstrom dominated the court, scoring 27 points and making more three-pointers than the entire UCSB team combined.
UCSB, once ranked fourth nationally in three-point shooting accuracy at 39.5%, has seen a drastic drop to 33.9%. Over the last ten games, they have converted just 27.1% of their attempts from beyond the arc, hitting only 73-of-269 shots. Jimenez acknowledged the shooting slump, stating, “We’ve been shooting poorly. We got great shots. We got layups around the rim. We did not focus and we did not finish.”
Freshman Chauncey Andersen provided a brief spark for the Gauchos, scoring three consecutive baskets in the first quarter and finishing with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. However, the team’s struggles became apparent as they failed to maintain momentum, allowing Riverside to surge ahead.
UCSB briefly led with a score of 16-14 by the end of the first quarter, but their shooting woes came to a head in the second period. The Gauchos missed six of their first seven shots, paving the way for Riverside’s 22-8 run that put them firmly in control.
As the game progressed, Zoe Borter rallied the Gauchos with a strong second half, scoring 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Riverside’s lead. Jimenez lamented, “I was proud of their effort to fight back, but you’re not going to win games when you only play for 10 minutes.”
UCSB will look to rebound quickly as they prepare for a crucial home game against Cal Poly on Saturday at 2 p.m.. The Gauchos need to address their defensive lapses and shooting inconsistencies if they hope to secure a better position in the upcoming tournament.
Stay tuned for updates as UCSB aims to turn their season around in the coming games.
