Courtesy of UCSB Athletics
The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball team delivered a clutch victory over the Grand Canyon University Lopes on Saturday Nov. 15, winning 72-70 in the Thunderdome. All forty minutes of playing time were jam-packed with action, with the two squads trading the lead back and forth. In the end, it would be the Gauchos standing victorious, now fourth in the Big West Conference.
The Gauchos began strong, with junior transfer Maddie Naro running the offense at point guard through star sophomore forward Olivia Bradley, who scored two quick left-handed layups through the Grand Canyon University (GCU) paint. However, the Lopes defense soon began to tire the Gauchos out, as their full-court press and quick feet had multiple Gauchos leaving their shots short in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Gauchos continued to shoot at a high field goal percentage, but sloppy transition defense and turnovers left the point differential within single-digits. Senior guard Skylar Burke was forced to sit after being called for two fouls in less than three minutes, prompting the Gauchos to turn to Bradley for an offensive spark. She certainly delivered, totaling 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks on 64% shooting on the game. UCSB’s momentum stayed steady through the second period and the score at the half showed 36-30 in favor of the Gauchos.
In the third quarter, a rested Burke immediately made her presence felt with a layup, block and 3-pointer in back-to-back possessions. The Gauchos continued to shoot more efficiently than the Lopes, but their 15 fouls and 13 turnovers to GCU’s 9 and 8, respectively, held them back, causing them to go into the final period tied.
In the fourth quarter, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, as each basket or steal drew loud roars and gasps. The Gauchos led consistently until GCU senior forward Anisa Jeffries gave the Lopes a 1-point lead with about 3 minutes left, though it was immediately followed by a Naro 3-pointer.
In the final thirty seconds, the Gauchos had a 1-point lead and possession but turned it over, helpless as Jeffries sprinted to the rim and scored to give GCU the lead back. With sixteen seconds left, Gaucho junior forward Zoe Borter drove in for a contested floater and hit to give UCSB the lead, with sophomore guard Zoe Shaw forcing a turnover on the other end to seal the win. The game-winner would be Borter’s only points of the afternoon.
UCSB now moves to 3-1 for the season, cementing themselves in the top 2 in the Big West Conference for field goal, three-point and free throw percentage. It was this efficiency that allowed the Gauchos to win on Saturday, despite 19 total turnovers and 11 less shots than the Lopes. They will now travel to face the California Baptist University Lancers on Nov. 28 at 12 p.m.
