Turnovers caught up to the UCSB women’s basketball team in the second half, especially in the final quarter, allowing Long Beach State to go on a run and defeat the Gauchos, 68-54, in a Big West game on Thursday night at the Thunderdome.
The loss dropped Santa Barbara to 7-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big West and snapped a five-game win streak.
Long Beach is in first place in the conference at 3-0 and is 10-1 overall.
Long Beach’s defense has been relentless all year. The Beach have yet to allow an opponent to score more than 70 points in a contest, a mark they upheld Thursday night.
Long Beach has also forced an average of 24 turnovers, including an average of 14 steals.
Its defense made the difference against the Gauchos, as the Beach forced 21 turnovers and came up with 10 steals.
Eleven turnovers came in the second half, including five in the final 10 minutes.
“Offensively, we had just too many turnovers,” UCSB Coach Bonnie Henrickson told Noozhawk after the game. “Unforced turnovers as well. Certainly they forced plenty, but we have to be better decision makers for sure.”
Aside from the turnovers, UCSB struggled to shoot the ball.
After shooting 54% from the field and 75% from 3-point range in the first quarter, the Gauchos shot just 30% from the field the rest of the night.
“We hit some rhythm threes in that first quarter and got to the free-throw line and we were opportunistic, but then we started turning it over and getting a bit disjointed,” Henrickson said.
“Despite it being a close game, it really felt like we could generate our best offense.”
The contest went back and forth, but in the fourth quarter, the Beach were able to put their stamp on the contest.
Long Beach held a 46-44 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Gauchos tied the contest at 46 before Beach went on a 12-0 run over the next two minutes, taking advantage of three UCSB turnovers.
With those turnovers, the Beach was able to turn in a 7-of-11 shooting performance in the final frame, including a pair of makes from 3-point range.
“For them, those turnovers, that’s typically where they grow their lead or take a lead,” Henrickson said.
UCSB would cut the lead back to nine on the ensuing possession, but Long Beach retaliated with a three of its own. Santa Barbara never cut the lead past 12 for the rest of the contest.
Four players for Long Beach scored in double figures Thursday night, led by Maddi Utti. The senior forward recorded 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.
For the night, Long Beach also outscored UCSB 36-12 in the paint.
One of the key moments of the contest came in the second quarter with 41 seconds left.
UCSB led 31-27, seemingly about to take a lead into the break. After Justina King knocked down a pair of free throws for the Beach, UCSB threw away the ensuing inbounds pass, which allowed King to score a layup to tie the contest at 31.
The Gauchos would miss on the ensuing possession and Long Beach scored in transition with just a few seconds remaining for a 33-31 lead at the half.
“It’s hard to not beat yourself up with the way that it happened,” Henrickson said.
Senior guard Danae Miller led the Gauchos in scoring with 15 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field with all five of her makes coming from deep.
Junior forward Ila Lane notched another double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 boards.
Henrickson was content with the team’s defense for the majority of the game.
Santa Barbara held King, the Beach’s leading scorer to just six points on 2-of-6 shooting.
UCSB’s next game is against Cal State Fullerton at the Thunderdome on Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. No fans will be allowed.