SAN LUIS OBISPO — Injury-plagued UC Santa Barbara couldn’t go deep on Thursday, playing only seven Gauchos in its Blue-Green Rivalry women’s basketball game at Cal Poly.
But at least Zoe Borter could go deep.
The junior forward made 5-of-10 three-pointers and scored 24 points in a 61-51 victory at the Mott Athletics Center.
“Zoe has been really steady for us offensively,” UCSB coach Renee Jimenez said. “She’s struggled the last few games to find her shot and it was nice to see her get a rhythm going tonight.”
The victory keeps the Gauchos (14-3, 6-2 Big West Conference) tied with UC Davis for third place in the league standings behind UC Irvine (8-0) and UC San Diego (7-1).
Borter scored 16 of her points in the last 11 minutes of the first half to turn a 13-10 deficit into a 38-22 lead.
Zoe Shaw hit a three-pointer to start the game. She finished with 13 points.
But freshman Dulci Vail tied the game at 10-10 by scoring all of Cal Poly’s first points. She finished with 14.
A three-pointer by fellow freshman Katie Peiffer gave the Mustangs their biggest lead of 16-12 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. She finished with a team-high 15 points.
Cal Poly was playing without leading scorer Vanessa McManus and Nora Perez.
“It’s been a real arduous year with injuries, youth,” Mustangs coach Shanele Stires said. “We’re probably the youngest team in the country.
“I’m so proud of the fight and the resiliency we showed tonight.”
The Gauchos have also been hindered by injuries to their guard line.
The most recent loss of senior Skylar Burke, last year’s Big West Hustle Player of the Year, has taken some of the steam out of the Gauchos’ fast start this season. She’s not expected back for at least three more weeks.
Borter was forced to carry most of UCSB’s scoring load on Thursday. She scored 19 of her 24 points in the first half.
She reduced the Gauchos’ deficit to 16-15 by making a three-pointer with just 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
She followed that up with three more threes during the second quarter to help UCSB out-score the Mustangs 23-6.
The Gauchos held Cal Poly to 2-for-17 shooting in the second period.
“We just got these scoring lulls where we can’t score the ball,” Stiles said. “I feel like we always have one quarter in particular that really sets us back, and that today was in the second quarter.”
Freshman Chauncey Andersen scored back-to-back baskets, the first assisted by Jessica Grant on a steal, to give UCSB a halftime lead of 38-22.
Maddie Naro scored all six of her points on three drives to the basket to start the second half. Grant added a three to cap a 9-2 run that gave UCSB its biggest lead of 47-24.
Cal Poly, however, got back into the game with a 13-2 run to end the third period. Peiffer’s three cut UCSB’s lead to 49-37 by the end of the quarter.
The Mustangs had rallied to within five points with 2:38 still left, 53-48, after Avery Knapp’s back-to-back baskets.
But Gaucho sophomore Olivia Bradley scored a put-back and two free throws in the next two minutes. She and Grant had six rebounds apiece to lead UCSB, although Cal Poly won the rebound battle, 42-33.
Shaw’s four free throws in as many attempts sealed the Gauchos’ victory in the final 7.4 seconds.
“We’re still searching for our identity and learning what it really takes to be champions,” Jimenez said. “We’ve made some big strides, but we know we’re not there yet, especially when it comes to giving 40 minutes of extreme focus on the defensive end and on the glass.
“That’s been a big emphasis for us, along with communicating better on defense.
“When those pieces come together consistently, I think this group has a chance to be something really special.”
The Gauchos will return home to play Long Beach State on Saturday at 1 p.m.