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(January 31, 2008) –
Junior Tainoisouti Lott’s career-highs of 27 points
and 13 rebounds weren’t enough as UC Riverside saw their
record slip to 7-11 overall and 5-2 in the Big West after
dropping a 73-61 decision to UC Santa Barbara up in Santa
Barbara Thursday night.
Lott led all scorers after
producing an 11-of-17 night from the floor while bringing
down a team-high 13 rebounds. Junior Seyram Gbewonyo added
14 points for the Highlanders who struggled to make their
shots down the stretch, which proved to be the difference
against the first-place Santa Barbara (13-6, 8-0 Big West)
squad.
UCR finished the game 19-of-52
(36.5%) including only 4-for-14 (28.6%) from behind the arc.
The Gauchos stayed perfect in Big West play and ended their
five-game losing streak to the Highlanders by shooting 26-of-61
(42.6%) and had three players finish in double figures. Santa
Barbara also won the battle on the boards, 43-33.
An up and down first half
was played by both squads as the Highlanders jumped out to
a quick 6-0 lead just over four minutes in. UCSB answered
though, with an 8-0 run of their own over the next two minutes
before sophomore Brittany Waddell knocked down a three to
regain the lead for UCR 9-8 at the 13:06 mark.
UCR would go on to hold
the lead for most of the first half, never going up by more
than five, and owned a 26-21 lead after Lott’s jumper
at the 5:29 mark. At that point, the UCSB defense clamped
down on the Highlander attack, and produced an 11-2 run to
close out the half and took a 32-28 lead into the break after
two made free-throws by Kat Suderman.
The conferences top two
teams played the type of half that was expected coming in.
With both squads missing their forces down low, it was a battle
to see who could produce the most around the basket. UCSB
won the battle down low through the first 20 minutes, out-rebounding
UCR 22-16 and scoring 12 points off of those second-chance
opportunities. Lott led all scorers with 10 first-half points
for the Highlanders.
The Gauchos opened the second
half with a 6-1 run and stretched their lead to 38-29 at the
just over five minutes in. Lott and Gbewonyo stepped up for
UCR though, as Lott scored UC Riverside’s next seven
points and Gbwonyo the next four to cut the Santa Barbara
lead to 42-39 with 13:35 remaining.
Over the next five minutes,
it was the Gauchos that held the lead for the majority of
the half. Despite six straight points again by Lott, UCR still
trailed 50-44 just under the eight-minute mark. She continued
the charge, at 4:30 mark, she was fouled after getting her
layup to fall and then completed the three-point play with
a made free throw. Following that play, junior Chanel Foster
produced a steal for the Highlanders, but her layup at the
offensive end rolled out. But there was Lott, who had hustled
down, for the put-back to cut the Gaucho lead to 54-50 with
four minutes to play.
Just as UCR made their run
and moved within striking distance of the Gauchos, UCSB’s
Jessica Wilson knocked down a three to open up a nine-point
59-50 Gaucho cushion with 3:14 left on the clock. Santa Barbara
would not look back after that, continuing to pass through
a Highlander press and made their shots to put the game away.
UCSB iced the game by making six of their final eight trips
to the free-throw line to pick up 73-61 the victory.
The Highlanders continue
their road trip with a stop in San Luis Obispo to face a very
good Cal Poly squad on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
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