Overview:
Karisma Flores scored a team-high 16 points, making 4-of-7 three-pointers, despite sitting out all but three minutes of the first half with foul trouble
MALIBU — The end justified the means for UC Santa Barbara when it benched foul-troubled freshman Karisma Flores for nearly the entire first half of Thursday’s women’s basketball game at Pepperdine.
Coach Renee Jimenez wanted her four-star recruit around for the stretch run of the Gauchos’ 58-54 victory.
“We worked four end-of-game situations in practice (on Monday), and she made all four of her end-of-game threes,” Jimenez said. “She’s just that kid.”
Flores’ game-high 16 points included a tie-breaking, fourth-quarter three-pointer which sent the Gauchos on to their second win of this season-opening week.
Olivia Anderson, UCSB’s 6-foot-6 transfer from Washington, also came up big by scoring six of her 13 points in the final eight-plus minutes.
Flores made 6-of-12 shots including 4-of-7 three-pointers while playing all 20 minutes of the second half.
Two of her threes actually came during the game’s first 80 seconds.
But when she got her second foul in the third minute, Jimenez didn’t want her to risk a third.
Flores sat for seven minutes and didn’t return until UCSB got the ball for the final play of the first quarter.
She made it count by coming off a screen to hit her third three for a 26-16 lead.
Jimenez also kept her out for all but the final offensive play of the second quarter.
By that time, the Gauchos had lost the lead, making just 2-of-14 shots in the period.
Senior captain Zoe Borter hooked in a shot on their last possession of the first half, reducing Pepperdine’s lead to 35-33.
Flores’ play was especially needed with Borter and point guard Maddie Naro, UCSB’s two senior stars, experiencing an off shooting night. They were held to a combined 10 points on 5-for-24 shooting.
Naro did earn her keep as the Gauchos’ playmaker with eight assists. Borter had three more.
“Karisma has earned a lot of respect from Maddie and Zoe, and that’s been huge,” Jimenez said. “They trust her.
“You can see Maddie looking for her all the time in transition when she gets to the paint.
“I mean, Karisma is just a baller.”
UCSB’s 47.4% shooting from three-point range (9-for-19) compensated for its 29.5% accuracy (13-for-44) from inside the arc. Maggie Mendelson, Pepperdine’s 6-5 center, blocked two of the Gauchos’ shots and altered many more.
The Gauchos also cooled off from three after making 7-of-9 during the first quarter.
Sophomore Chauncey Andersen came off the bench to make two of them. She finished with nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
Olivia Anderson sank her second three in the first minute of the second period to get UCSB’s lead back to 10 points, 29-19.
The Gauchos missed their next 11 shots, however.
The Waves surged ahead on a 16-2 run. Elli Guiney, their leading scorer with 19 points, gave them their biggest lead, 35-31, with a minute left in the first half.
Pepperdine took advantage of 13 Gaucho fouls during the first half to make 8-of-12 free throws.
UCSB got only four free throws, making three, off five Pepperdine fouls.
Flores kept the Gauchos close during the third period with a pair of jump shots.
A three-point play by Chauncey Andersen off Borter’s feed got UCSB back even at 42-all.
Naro missed her first seven shots before scoring a runner at the end the third period, tying the game again at 45-all.
Flores gave the Gauchos their first lead of the second half when she stepped back to drill her fourth three-pointer in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
“I feel very happy right now — I got to play with all my teammates,” she said. “They’re my favorite people right now. It feels good to get the win with them.
“This gives us a lot of confidence.
“We’ve been working really hard in the summer and stuff, and so it’s really exciting to see what else we can do.”
Naro’s second-effort plays, meanwhile, proved crucial during the final period.
She scored after Nicole Steiner had rebounded her missed jumper and shoveled the ball right back to her.
Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe got Naro another second chance a minute later. She tipped her next miss right back to her, and the Gaucho point guard converted again with a left-handed hook shot.
Zonzon-Huyghe finished with five rebounds and a team-high four steals.
Naro also answered a clutch three by Pepperdine’s Guiney with a stop-and-pop jumper to keep UCSB ahead 54-50.
The Waves got within 56-54 with two minutes to go, but Olivia Anderson’s basket off Naro’s driving pass helped seal UCSB’s victory.
“I’m really proud of the toughness and grit we showed tonight, especially when our backs were against the wall,” Jimenez said. “Our depth was huge for us, and it was critical that every player who stepped on the floor embraced and executed their role.
“We stayed together and competed.”
The Waves were coming off a win in their season opener at Portland State on Monday.
“It was a great opportunity to measure ourselves against a quality Pepperdine team and a future WCC opponent as we prepare for the move next season,” Jimenez said.
The Gauchos will face another future West Coast Conference opponent on Monday at 6 p.m. when Seattle University visits the Thunderdome.