Skylar Burke Drives UCSB to its Third-Straight Women’s Basketball Victory

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Foul trouble kept Skylar Burke’s high-RPM motor idling on UCSB’s bench for most of the first half in Thursday’s women’s basketball game at Cal Poly.

But she rolled in high gear the rest of the night.

The junior guard scored all 12 of her points in the second half which included five clutch free throws in the final 32 seconds to lead the Gauchos to their third-straight victory, 63-60, at Mott Gym.

Burke, who played only four minutes during the first half, remained in the game for all 20 of the second half while all-leaguer Alyssa Marin got into her own foul trouble. Marin played only four minutes during the last two quarters before fouling out.

“Skye is so dependable in so many areas,” UCSB coach Renee Jimenez said. “We ask her to wear a lot of hats and she wears them all so well for us.

“Guard the best player? She’ll do that … Grab 10 rebounds? No problem … Play 30-plus minutes a game? ‘You got it coach.’

“She’s just a glue kid and tonight she came up huge for us in so many areas when we needed her to.”

The Gauchos (17-11, 11-7 Big West Conference) moved to within a half-game of UC Davis and UC San Diego, which are tied for third place in the league standings with 11-6 records.

The third- and fourth-place teams will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament in Henderson, Nev.

“This game could be a pivotal moment to the remainder of our season,” Jimenez said. “The growth and toughness our team showed tonight should really give them the confidence they need heading down the stretch.”

UCSB has just two regular-season games remaining: Saturday’s 4 p.m., Senior Day contest at the Thunderdome against Cal State Northridge and another Saturday game on March 8 at UC Irvine.

Cal Poly (11-16, 6-11) made a trio of three-pointers in the final three minutes of the first quarter — two by Annika Shah — to take a 17-12 lead. Shah made 5-of-6 threes for the game to finish with a game-high 18 points.

The Gauchos trailed by as many as seven points before Zoe Borter’s three triggered a 19-7 run in the final 6:36 of the first half to send them into the break with a 31-26 lead.

Borter, who had scored only 12 points in her previous four games combined, matched that total on Saturday while scoring seven in the second quarter.

A four-point play by Shah gave the Mustangs a 52-51 lead with 5:45 remaining. Two foul shots by Sydney Bourland kept them ahead at 55-54 with 2:04 left.

Cal Poly had a chance to extend that lead, but fifth-year senior Anya Choice turned the tide for UCSB.

She cashed in her own steal with a transition three-pointer to give the Gauchos a two-point lead with 1:06 to play. It was Choice’s season-high third three of the game.

“I’m so proud of that kid!” Jimenez gushed. “Such a huge shot!

“She’s been a little up and down this year but to have the guts to step up and take that was big time.”

Choice, who finished with 10 points, has come alive the last five games to make 14-of-27 shots and 6-of-9 threes. She had made just 7-of-33 shots and 1-of-14 threes in the previous nine games.

Olivia Bradley, who missed UCSB’s first 10 contests of this year after having undergone knee surgery early in the 2023-24 season, also continued to assert herself with her fourth-straight double-figure game of 11 points.

Bradley, who was voted Big West Player of the Week for her performances in last week’s wins over Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State, led UCSB with eight rebounds.

Laurel Rockwood added six to help the Gauchos out-rebound Cal Poly 30-27. UCSB is 12-3 when it out-rebounds an opponent and just 5-8 when it doesn’t.

Cayla Williams was a perfect 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-2 in free throws to add eight points to UCSB’s total.

The Gauchos out-shot the Mustangs 43.2% to 40% to help them survive Cal Poly’s 9-for-18 shooting from three.

UCSB, which leads the nation with its free-throw percentage of .817, also made 11-of-14 foul shots in the fourth quarter and 18-of-25 for the game.