With the exeption of maybe Allen Iverson, everyone knows that practice makes perfect.
UCSB head coach Lindsay Gottlieb had her team ready to play on Thursday night, putting together a game plan that paid off in a 64-51 Big West victory over UC Davis at the Thunderdome.
“We drilled their defense for three days straight. I think if you asked us to go out there and run it, we could probably run their offense and their defense because we scouted them so well,” claimed Sha’Rae Gibbons, who had 12 points and seven rebounds. “The coaches did an amazing job.”
The first place Gauchos (11-6, 6-0 BW) stymied the Aggies’ Princeton-style offense and broke down their zone on the other end to build a lead as high as 18 in the second half.
Davis pulled to within eight twice in the final four minutes but each time the Gauchos responded with points. With the Aggies more bothering than threatening, UCSB knocked down 11 of its last 12 free throws to close it out.
Lauren Pederson led the Gauchos with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
Lauren Juric also led the Aggies with 15 points, but UCSB limited Davis’ season scoring leader, Paige Mintun, to 8 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
“We run a fairly intricate offense, but they were prepared, they knew how they wanted to handle our players and they were consistent with it,” noted UC Davis head coach Sandy Simpson. “That’s the mark of a well-coached team.”
“Coach G is just amazing,” said Gibbons, . “She’s super intelligent when it comes to basketball and she gets the game – and where you can beat people with the personnel that you have. I don’t know a coach that can do it better.”
Gottlieb was quick to say not so fast, the players are doing all the work.
“With this team, I just need to say things and they respond,” said the first-year coach, enjoying her first eight-game win streak.
That streak is on the line when the Gauchos close out a four-game homestand on Saturday against third-place Pacific.
