BAKERSFIELD – Krista Aruse drove the length of the court with eight seconds left and scooped a layup in to give Cal State Bakersfield a stunning 69-67 victory over the UCSB women’s basketball team, ending the Gauchos’ 10-game winning streak.
Down three points, Lauren Pedersen was fouled on a three-point attempt with 8.0 seconds left. After Pedersen hit her first two free throws, Bakersfield coach Tim La Kuse called timeout. It didn’t matter as Pedersen hit the third to tie the game.
But, Aruse, who nailed a long-range three-pointer to give Bakersfield a 67-64 lead moments earlier took the ball, dribbled through the defense and sent her layup high off the glass where it bounced on the rim and fell in as time expired.
UCSB falls to 13-7 overall as Cal State Bakersfield improves to 14-8 and 6-1 vs. Big West opponents.
Jenna Green scored 16 points with six rebounds. Ashlee Brown did a terrific job spelling Green, as the sophomore scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds, setting a season high for points. Margaret Johnson also had a sensational game, scoring 10 points while grabbing seven boards.
Following a technical foul on Sha’Rae Gibbons, Krista Arase knocked down both free throws and then moments later canned a long-distance three-pointer to give Bakersfield a 67-64 lead with a minute and a half remaining.
But Pedersen was fouled on a three-point attempt and eventually tied the game. Pedersen finished with 13 points, seven assists and three rebounds.
UCSB took a four-point lead on Emilie Johnson’s three-pointer with 10:33 remaining as the teams traded leads from there on out.
Down two with 5:24 left, the Gauchos scored consecutive baskets for a short-lived lead. In the final 7:47 there were six ties and five lead changes.
UCSB went on a quick 7-0 run to take a 23-22 advantage with 3:52 remaining in the first half, but Bakersfield finished the half on an 11-2 run to close out the half with a 33-25 lead.
The Gauchos return home on Feb. 5 vs. Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m
