Another tough first half caused the UCSB women’s basketball team to try and dig out of a hole and though the Gauchos hung tough with Cal Poly throughout the second half, the first-half deficit was too much as UCSB lost its fourth in a row.
The Mustangs used a 15-point lead at the break to win by that same margin, 67-52, on Saturday afternoon at the Thunderdome. UCSB is now 8-13 overall and 3-6 in the Big West while Cal Poly improves to 9-12, 6-3.
The Mustangs’ win, coupled with their win over the Gauchos earlier this season, marks the first time since Cal Poly joined the Big West in the mid-1990s that the team swept UCSB.
Santa Barbara lost its third straight game at the Thunderdome and has now dropped five of its past six games.
Cal Poly used a pair of 7-0 runs in the first half to jump out to its 30-15 halftime edge, but it was also aided in part by 11 Gaucho turnovers in the first 20 minutes. UCSB finished with just 15 turnovers on the day.
Nicole Nesbit and Emilie Johnson each scored 12 points to lead UCSB, as each came off the bench to do so. UCSB head coach Carlene Mitchell went with a new starting lineup that consisted of Angelei Aguirre, Madeline Campbell, Jackie Luna-Castro, Sweets Underwood and Melissa Zornig.
UCSB actually outplayed Cal Poly for parts of the second half, but had to foul down the stretch and the Mustangs hit 12 free throws in the final three minutes to ice the game.
The Gauchos host Cal State Fullerton on Thursday at 7 pm. Tickets are available by calling 893-UCSB or by clicking here.
