UPDATE: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team suffered its fourth defeat in five games, falling 69-62 to UC Riverside on Thursday at the Thunderdome. This marks the tenth consecutive game where the Gauchos have struggled offensively, prompting head coach Renee Jimenez to voice her frustration over the team’s defensive lapses.
“I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close,” Jimenez stated post-game. “To give them a 24-point second quarter and a 21-point fourth quarter is really frustrating. We’re better than that.”
The defeat drops UCSB to 16-7 overall and 8-6 in the Big West Conference, now three games behind fourth place with only seven games left before the tournament. The top four teams will receive a bye in the first round of the tournament, making this loss even more critical for the Gauchos’ playoff aspirations.
Despite Riverside’s overall shooting percentage of just 42.1%, they capitalized on UCSB’s defensive breakdowns, especially in the second and fourth quarters. Sophomore standout Hannah Wickstrom led the Highlanders with 27 points, shooting 5-of-8 from three-point range, surpassing her nation-leading average of 23.3 points per game.
UCSB, once ranked fourth nationally in three-point shooting, now sits at 33.9% after making only 27.1% of their shots from beyond the arc in the last ten games. They finished the game with just 4-of-19 from three-point range.
“We’ve been shooting poorly,” Jimenez acknowledged. “We got great shots. We got layups around the rim. We did not focus and we did not finish when we had the opportunity.”
Freshman forward Chauncey Andersen tried to ignite the team early, scoring three straight baskets in the first quarter, helping UCSB take a brief lead. She ended the game with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
While Zoe Borter struggled initially, scoring only three free throws in the first half, she mounted a comeback with 20 points, scoring 17 of those in the second half. Her efforts brought UCSB within striking distance, but the team ultimately fell short.
As the game progressed, Riverside’s Wickstrom, along with teammate Seneca Hackley, who added 20 points, kept UCSB at bay. The Gauchos made a late push in the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to 56-54, but were unable to complete the comeback, allowing Riverside to finish strong with a 15-6 run in the final minutes.
“We talked a lot this week about making changes by February after going through a hard January,” Jimenez expressed. “It was frustrating. We need to be more connected defensively.”
The Gauchos will look to bounce back this Saturday, February 4, at 2 p.m. when they host Cal Poly in another critical matchup as they fight for a better position ahead of the Big West Tournament.
