Overview:
UCSB is off to its best start in Big West Conference play since the 2008-09 season
LONG BEACH — Some senior moments from Alyssa Marin and Anya Choice led UC Santa Barbara to the top of Big West Conference women’s basketball on Saturday.
The two fourth-year guards combined to shoot 8-for-12 from the three-point line to lead the Gauchos to a 69-56 victory at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid.
“It was huge to have their presence in the fourth quarter in a tight game,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “They got big buckets and have been through it and been in those situations.”
UCSB (11-5, 5-1 Big West), which won its third-straight game and sixth in its last seven games, moved half a game ahead of 4-1 Hawai’i in the conference race. The Rainbow Warriors lost at UC Riverside on Saturday, 66-58.
Gauchos are off to their best six-game start in league since the 2008-09 season.
Experience in the backcourt is making a difference, Henrickson said.
“Alyssa Marin had a career night and Anya Choice was able to step into some threes to give us some breathing room,” she said. “It’s something we have been asking her to do.”
Marin set career highs with 25 points and five three-pointers in eight attempts. Her previous bests were 22 points at Nevada earlier this season and four threes in three previous games.
She scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter to help UCSB overcome a brief one-point deficit in the final six minutes.
Although UCSB shot just 38.3% overall, it made 52.9% from three (9-for-17).
Choice went 3-for-4 from the three-point line to finish with 11 points. She also spearheaded the Gaucho defense with three steals. The Beach shot just 38.9% overall and 29.2% from the three-point line.
Alexis Whitfield added 13 points, although Long Beach’s collapsing defense limited her to just 6-for-15 shooting and forced her into 10 turnovers. The Beach blocked seven Gaucho shots.
UCSB committed 17 turnovers as a team but won the rebound battle, 39-32. Whitfield and guard Skylar Burke got nine apiece.
Burke, who led all players with six assists, reclaimed five Gaucho misses. UCSB had 18 offensive rebounds as a team.
“That activity level and that effort was really good,” Henrickson said.
Marin kept UCSB close through the first quarter, sinking three baskets including a pair of threes.
Long Beach (6-10, 1-5) needed Patricia Chung’s period-ending jumper to eke out a 15-14 lead.
But Choice ignited an 18-0 run during the second quarter, making a baseline jumper and two threes during the first 4½ minutes of the period.
“Anya really started the party from the three-point line,” Henrickson said. “She got two really good looks in the first half and knocked them down.”
Marin boosted the Gauchos’ lead to 17 points, 34-17, when she hit a three and then assisted a layup by Laurel Rockwood.
“I was really thrilled that we had 18 assists to our 23 made shots,” Henrickson said. “We let go of the ball … shared the ball.”
A mid-key jumper by Savanna Tucker finally ended a seven-minute scoreless drought for Long Beach during which it had committed seven turnovers.
Olivia Moore’s three just before halftime cut the Beach’s deficit to 36-21.
UCSB shot only 38.9% in the first half, but it made 6-of-11 threes and doubled up the Beach in rebounds, 22-11. The Gauchos actually rebounded more of their own misses (13) than Long Beach’s (9).
The Beach got back in the game with a 17-4 run during the third quarter. It made a trio of threes, with Chung’s long bomb reducing its deficit to just 42-39.
Long Beach overtook the Gauchos with six minutes to go, 52-51, when Savanna Tucker scored off a spin move.
“In the second quarter we had a good rhythm and got really good looks,” Henrickson said. “They made a run and answered, which teams are going to do, and we’ll learn from that.
“But we took control again.”
Marin scored three straight baskets — two of them threes —to put UCSB back ahead. She started a 10-0 run that sealed Long Beach’s doom.
Choice contributed a three when Mary McMorris found her in the corner. Choice also set up Whitfield’s layup with a perfectly placed lob.
“It was good that we got contributions from everybody,” Henrickson said. “Mary’s defensive presence helped us down the stretch, as well.”
Marin capped the run with two free throws with 51 seconds to go, giving the Gauchos a commanding 61-52 lead.
“A road win is a good win for us to continue to build momentum,” Henrickson said.