BREAKING: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team continues to struggle, suffering a 69-62 defeat to UC Riverside at the Thunderdome on January 25, 2024. This marks the Gauchos’ fourth loss in their last five games, leaving them with an 8-6 record in the Big West Conference and deepening their position in fifth place, three games behind the fourth spot necessary for a bye in the upcoming tournament.
The game showcased a persistent offensive cold spell, with UCSB’s coach Renee Jimenez expressing frustration over the team’s defensive failures. “I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close,” Jimenez stated. “To give them a 24-point second quarter and a 21-point fourth quarter is really frustrating. We’re better than that.”
Despite a commendable performance from Hannah Wickstrom, who scored 27 points and made five three-pointers, the Gauchos’ shooting woes continued. UCSB managed only 4-of-19 from beyond the arc (21.1%) compared to Riverside’s effective shooting in crucial moments of the game.
The Gauchos, ranked fourth nationally in three-point shooting accuracy earlier this month, now find themselves at a concerning 33.9% for the season. Jimenez commented on the team’s struggles: “We’ve been shooting poorly… We did not focus and we did not finish around the rim.”
UCSB initially surged ahead in the first quarter, ending it with a 16-14 lead, sparked by freshman Chauncey Andersen who contributed a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. However, Riverside quickly regained control, driven by Wickstrom’s scoring blitz.
The Gauchos managed to rally in the second half, with Zoe Borter leading the charge by scoring 17 of her team-high 20 points in the second half. Despite their efforts to close the gap, UCSB was unable to maintain momentum as Riverside capitalized late in the game.
“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. The team faces a quick turnaround with a crucial home game against Cal Poly scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, where they will seek to break this streak and strengthen their playoff hopes.
The defeat highlights urgent issues for the Gauchos as they prepare for the remaining games of the season. With only seven games left, each match becomes critical for UCSB’s aspirations in the Big West Tournament.
