SAN LUIS OBISPO – Jenna Green showed no ill effects from missing UCSB’s last game and hardly let constant double-teams and physical defense dissuade her on Saturday as she led UCSB women’s basketball team to a 66-62 win over Cal Poly.
Green had 23 points and 12 rebounds – her third double-double over her past four games – as UCSB improved to 16-7 overall and 11-0 in the Big West. Cal Poly falls to 15-8, 7-4.
The crowd of 1,737 was the top crowd in Cal Poly women’s basketball history.
Hounded by Cal Poly’s Kristina Santiago all game long, Green may have saved her best for last and when the Gauchos needed it most. With Cal Poly playing from behind and most of Green’s damage done down low in the post, the sixth-year senior swished a 15-footer over two Mustangs defenders with 59 seconds left for a 61-54 lead.
That advantage allowed the Gauchos to absorb Lisa McBride’s sixth three-pointer of the game moments later and Megan Harrison’s old-fashioned three-point play to cut UCSB’s lead to 63-62 with 20 seconds left.
Following a free throw from Emilie Johnson, McBride had an open look at a go-ahead three-pointer with seven seconds left, but it fell short and UCSB remained undefeated in conference and extended its conference road winning streak to 19 games, which leads the nation.
Free throws by Jordan Franey gave UCSB its final total as Franey added a career-high five assists.
Over her past five games Green is averaging 18.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Lauren Pedersen had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals as the senior nailed 4 of 8 three-pointers and consistently came up big in key spots. However, her school-record 29 consecutive free throws came to an end when she missed her first, but she made her next three to start a new streak.
McBride led Cal Poly with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Harrison had 18 points and nine rebounds and Santiago added 17 points to go with eight boards.After shooting 50% in the first half from the field – including 4 of 10 from downtown – UCSB shot just 32.1% in the second half, yet went 13 of 16 from the free throw line.
The Gauchos return home on Feb. 24 vs. Oregon State at 7 p.m. for the team’s Pink Zone game to raise breast cancer awareness. Tickets are just $1 and pink baseball hats and player-designed pink T-shirts will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going toward breast cancer research.
