After failing to capitalize with a chance to tie the game with 5.9 seconds left in overtime, the UCSB women’s basketball team lost their home opener to Portland State on Thursday 69-66.

“We are really disappointed not coming out of this game with a win,” Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “It was a tremendous battle, you know it was a good college basketball game, and there was a lot of effort. I am proud of our team’s effort. I thought we were much better consistently across the board defensively than we were in the first two games. We’ve got to get tougher and make those plays in crunch time.”

Senior forward Mekia Valentine led the Gauchos with 18 points and 14 rebounds for her first double double of the year. Sophomore forward Sweets Johnson posted a career-high 15 points and added nine rebounds.

“Portland State is a good team. This one felt a little grittier and a lot more physical,” Gottlieb said. “We knew they were going to give us a battle and unfortunately we couldn’t take care of business.”

The Gauchos next game is on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Thunderdome against Idaho.

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