BREAKING: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team suffered a disheartening 69-62 defeat to UC Riverside on February 2, 2023, marking their 10th consecutive game with offensive struggles. Coach Renee Jimenez expressed frustration over the team’s defensive lapses that cost them critical points at the Thunderdome.
UCSB’s defense faltered at crucial moments, allowing Riverside to score 24 points in the second quarter and 21 in the fourth. “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.”
This defeat marks UCSB’s fourth loss in five games, pushing their season record to 16-7 overall and 8-6 in the Big West Conference. The Gauchos now find themselves three games behind the fourth-place team in the league, a position critical for securing a bye in the upcoming Big West Tournament.
Despite Riverside’s 42.1% shooting for the game, they capitalized on UCSB’s struggles, with standout performances from players like sophomore Hannah Wickstrom, who scored 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. In contrast, UCSB struggled with their three-point efficiency, hitting only 4-of-19 (21.1%) attempts.
“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.” The Gauchos, once ranked fourth nationally in three-point shooting at 39.5%, have plummeted to 33.9% as their shooting woes persist.
Freshman Chauncey Andersen provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while teammate Zoe Borter led UCSB with 20 points, rallying in the second half after a quiet first. However, despite their efforts, the Gauchos couldn’t overcome Riverside’s lead.
UCSB will look to bounce back in their next game against Cal Poly on February 4 at 2 p.m. “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 said, emphasizing the need for consistency and communication on the court.
The Gauchos face a critical juncture as they aim to regain their form and secure a better position in the league standings. Fans are urged to support the team as they strive for redemption this Saturday.
