The UCSB women secured their best start in six seasons, beating UC Riverside 64-60 in a Big West game on the road.
The Gauchos improve to 4-1 in conference play and 11-4 overall. Riverside is 2-4 and 4-12.
A 24-18 margin in the third quarter erased a 26-23 halftime deficit for UCSB. With 5:24 remaining in the third, Alexis Tucker hit a jumper and drew a foul, converting the and-one to give UCSB the lead for good.
Tucker and Alyssa Marin led the Gaucho scoring with 12 points apiece. Senior Ila Lane added 10 points and freshman guard Skylar Burke tied her career high with nine and added a team-high eight rebounds.
UCSB shot 46.2 percent from the field, on 24 of 52, to UC Riverside’s 38.6 percent on 22 of 57.
The Gauchos return home for a game Monday against Big West leader UC Irvine at the Thunderdome. Game time is 7 p.m.