Women's Basketball Runs Into Defensive Buzzsaw In 53-43 Loss To UCSB

Thursday, February 16

Riverside, CA

7:00 pm

UC Riverside

5-20, 3-10

UC Santa Barbara

11-13, 5-6

Team	1	2	F
UC Santa Barbara	24	29	53
UC Riverside	12	31	43

Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta

Women's Basketball Runs Into Defensive Buzzsaw In 53-43 Loss To UCSB

2/16/2012 8:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score - UC Santa Barbara 53, UC Riverside 43

Riverside—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team ran into a defensive buzzsaw Thursday evening as the Highlanders were held to 26.0 percent shooting on the night in a 53-43 loss to UC Santa Barbara.

The loss drops UCR's record in the Big West to 3-10, a half game ahead of ninth place Cal State Fullerton. The Titans played CSU Bakersfield in a non-conference game this evening. UC Santa Barbara improves to 5-6 in conference to remain a half game ahead of sixth place Long Beach State, who beat UC Davis this evening 67-55.

Kiara Harewood's jumper with 16:01 to go in the first cut the Gauchos lead to 10-4. It would be another eight minutes before UCR would score again as the Highlanders missed 12 shots from the field and two free throws while committing three turnovers.

Thankfully, the UC Riverside defense was almost as good, as UC Santa Barbara scored just four points during that stretch. Harewood's basket made the score 14-6 with 7:59 to go in the first.

Unfortunately, things didn't get any better for the Highlanders over the rest of the period as they made just four of 26 shots in the first half and trailed 24-12 at the break. The 12 points is the fewest points UC Riverside has scored in a half in its Division I era.

The lid remained on the basket for the Highlanders early in the second half as they missed eight straight shots to start the period. Jessica Ogunnorin's jumper with 6:39 gone in the stanza ended the drought, but by that time the Gauchos led 35-14.

UC Riverside wasn't done though, as they tried to match UC Santa Barbara stop for stop. The Gauchos still led by 21, 39-18 with 10:18 to go, but the Highlanders scored the next seven points to cut the lead to 39-25 with 7:59 on the clock.

After a Destiny Mason jumper ended the run, Tre'Shonti Nottingham scored the next six points of the game to reduce the lead to 10, 41-31. Unfortunately, the Highlanders were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.

UC Riverside remains at home this weekend as they host Cal Poly on Saturday, February 18 beginning at 3 pm PT. The Mustangs are currently 8-3 in the Big West and trail first place Cal State Northridge by a half game.