RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Highlanders started their final full week of the regular season hosting UC Santa Barbara. Looking to sweep the season series with UCSB, the Highlanders had a chance late, but the Gauchos held on in the end. Reigning Big West Conference Player of the Week,
Hannah Wickstrom's 25 points were not enough to overcome a balanced Santa Barbara offense. The Gauchos topped the Highlanders, 61-57.
The Highlanders were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the game until two free throws by Wickstrom put them on the board.
Kaylani Polk hit a three to put the Highlanders down three, and 8-5. Polk was the only other Highlander in double figures with 13. A couple of possessions later,
Maya Chocano hit her first of three three pointers and UCR tied it up at ten. The Gauchos chipped away, but UCR still held a 15-13 advantage at the end of the first.
The offense again started slow in the second for UCR. Its only two points in the first four and half minutes came on a pair of free throws by
Taylor Swanson. Polk hit another three a couple of minutes later and the game was tied again, this time at 24. After that the offense went on another dry spell and UCSB took a 29-26 lead at half.
In the third UCSB held a seven point lead. An and one for Wickstrom followed up by a three pointer and UCR trailed the Gauchos by one. They could not gain the lead in the quarter.
The game tightened up in the fourth. UCSB jumped out to a quick six point lead to start the final quarter, but UCR answered. Chocano's third three put the UCSB lead to three, but the Gauchos answered back. Again with the lead up by six four straight points by Polk and UCR trailed by only two. After a
Bria Shine free throw the lead was one, and the game got tied up on a Chocano layup.
With just over a minute left UCSB took the lead for good and a couple of free throws late put the game out of reach and gave UCSB a split in the season series.
Up next for the Highlanders is a trip to CSUN for their final road game of the year, before they head to Henderson for the Big West Conference Tournament.
