UPDATE: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team faced another setback, falling 69-62 to UC Riverside at the Thunderdome on February 2, 2023. This marks the 10th consecutive game where the Gauchos struggled offensively, deepening their slump in the Big West Conference.
Head Coach Renee Jimenez expressed her frustration post-game, particularly with the team’s defensive performance. “I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close,” she stated. UCSB allowed Riverside to score 24 points in the second quarter and 21 points in the fourth, a trend that has haunted the Gauchos throughout the season.
The defeat marks UCSB’s fourth loss in the last five games, placing them three games out of fourth in the league standings with only seven games left to play. The top four teams secure a bye in the first round of the Big West Tournament, making every game critical as the season progresses.
Despite a 42.1% shooting performance from Riverside, the Highlanders capitalized on UCSB’s defensive lapses, particularly in critical moments. Sophomore Hannah Wickstrom led the Highlanders with 27 points, exceeding her national average of 23.3 points per game. Wickstrom’s impressive shooting included 5-of-8 from three-point range, outscoring the entire UCSB team in three-pointers.
Earlier in the season, UCSB ranked 4th nationally in three-point accuracy at 39.5%, but they have since plummeted to 33.9% as their shooting woes continued. The Gauchos have made only 73-of-269 three-pointers in their last 10 games, a staggering 27.1% success rate.
Jimenez noted, “We’ve been shooting poorly. We got great shots. We did not focus and we did not finish around the rim.” Freshman Chauncey Andersen provided a spark for UCSB, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win as the Gauchos struggled to maintain momentum.
UCSB briefly took the lead at the end of the first quarter, but Riverside’s explosive runs in the second and fourth quarters proved decisive. The Gauchos showed resilience, pulling within two points late in the game, but faltered in the final minutes, allowing Riverside to seal the victory.
As the team prepares for their next challenge, Jimenez emphasized the need for better communication on the court. “It was real quiet on the court. We have to challenge them just to talk and speak and communicate,” she said, reflecting on the urgency to improve before their next game.
UCSB will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. with a home game against Cal Poly, a crucial opportunity to turn their season around and regain momentum in the conference.
