BREAKING: The UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball team faced another setback, suffering a 69-62 defeat to UC Riverside at the Thunderdome on February 2, 2023. This marks the team’s 10th consecutive game struggling offensively, prompting coach Renee Jimenez to express her frustration over defensive failings.
In a post-game statement, Jimenez stated,
“I thought, defensively, we did not execute the scout — I mean, not even close,”
adding that allowing a 24-point second quarter and a 21-point fourth quarter was unacceptable. The loss deepens UCSB’s slump, now falling to 16-7 overall and 8-6 in the Big West Conference, putting them three games behind fourth place with only seven games remaining in the season.
Despite Riverside’s overall shooting percentage of only 42.1%, the Highlanders capitalized during critical moments, particularly with a strong second quarter. Sophomore Hannah Wickstrom, who ranks sixth nationally with a 23.3-point average, led all scorers with 27 points, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. In contrast, UCSB struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4-of-19 attempts (21.1%).
UCSB’s shooting woes continue, having dropped to 33.9% in three-point accuracy, down from a season-high of 39.5% earlier this month. In the last ten games, they have connected on just 73-of-269 three-point attempts (27.1%). Jimenez lamented,
“We’ve been shooting poorly… We got great shots. We got layups around the rim. We did not focus and we did not finish around the rim.”
Freshman Chauncey Andersen sparked the Gauchos early, scoring three consecutive baskets to narrow Riverside’s lead to just one point. She finished with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Zoe Borter also rallied, scoring 20 points, but her efforts were not enough to overcome the Highlanders’ final push.
The Gauchos momentarily closed the gap to 56-54 early in the fourth quarter, but UC Riverside responded, outscoring UCSB 15-6 in the closing minutes to secure the victory. Jimenez emphasized the need for improved communication and defensive connection moving forward, stating,
“It was real quiet on the court. We have to challenge them just to talk and speak and communicate.”
Looking ahead, UCSB will face Cal Poly at home on Saturday, February 4, at 2 p.m., a critical matchup as they fight to regain momentum in the season and secure a better position in the conference standings. Fans and supporters will be watching closely to see if the Gauchos can turn around their fortunes in this upcoming game.
