The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team faced another setback on February 1, 2024, suffering a 69-62 defeat against UC Riverside at the Thunderdome. The loss marks the Gauchos’ fourth in their last five games, deepening their struggles in the Big West Conference standings.
Coach Renee Jimenez expressed significant frustration with her team’s defensive performance, particularly during crucial moments. “I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close,” she stated. The Gauchos conceded a troubling 24 points in the second quarter and 21 points in the fourth, which proved pivotal in the matchup.
With the loss, UCSB now holds a record of 16-7 overall and 8-6 in the Big West, placing them fifth in the conference, three games behind the fourth position, which is significant for tournament seedings. The top four teams receive a bye in the first round of the Big West Tournament. In contrast, UC Riverside improved to a record of 8-16 and 6-8 in the conference.
Despite a game shooting percentage of 42.1%, Riverside capitalized on critical moments, shooting 56.3% in the second quarter and 54.5% in the fourth. Hannah Wickstrom, a sophomore standout for Riverside, scored 27 points, surpassing her average of 23.3 points per game. Notably, she achieved this while making 5-of-8 three-pointers, outpacing the entire UCSB team, which managed only 4-of-19 (21.1%) from beyond the arc.
UCSB’s shooting woes have become a recurring theme, as the team has struggled to find its rhythm. Once ranked fourth nationally for three-point shooting at 39.5%, their percentage has now dropped to 33.9%. Over the past ten games, they have converted just 27.1% of their three-point attempts, hitting only 73 of 269 attempts.
Jimenez noted the overall poor shooting performance, stating, “We got great shots. We got layups around the rim. We did not focus and we did not finish around the rim when we got up.” She highlighted the need for improvement in defensive communication and teamwork, emphasizing the importance of being more connected on the court.
The first quarter showed promise for UCSB, with Chauncey Andersen coming off the bench to score three consecutive baskets, culminating in a three-point play that brought the Gauchos within one point at 12-11. Andersen finished the game with a double-double, contributing 13 points and 11 rebounds. By the end of the first quarter, UCSB led 16-14.
However, the team’s shooting struggles quickly surfaced in the second quarter as they missed six of their first seven shots. Riverside took advantage, launching a 22-8 run that pushed them ahead 36-24. Wickstrom’s performance was pivotal during this stretch, as she scored 17 of her points by halftime.
The Gauchos showed resilience in the second half, with Zoe Borter leading the charge. After scoring only three points in the first half, she erupted for 17 points in the second half. Borter made several key baskets, including two three-pointers early in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to just one point at 48-47 by the end of the period.
“I was proud of their effort to fight back, but you’re not going to win games when you only play for 10 minutes,” Jimenez remarked after the game. Borter continued her strong performance into the fourth quarter, scoring three quick baskets, bringing UCSB within two points at 56-54 with just over six minutes remaining.
Despite the close score, UC Riverside managed to pull away, outscoring UCSB 15-6 in the final minutes. Jimenez reiterated the importance of defensive focus and communication, stating, “It was real quiet on the court. We have to challenge them just to talk and speak and communicate.”
The Gauchos will look to bounce back as they prepare for a home game against Cal Poly on February 3, 2024, at 14:00 local time. The team aims to improve their performance as they enter the final stretch of the regular season, with critical conference matchups ahead.
