UCSB’s Sweets Underwood
Senior Sweets Underwood has been named the Big West Women?s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season for her part in leading UC Santa Barbara to road wins against Cal State Northridge and Hawai?i this past week.
The 6-0 forward notched her sixth double-double of the season in Thursday’s 56-37 triumph against the Matadors. She had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and aided a defensive effort that resulted in the fewest number of points scored by a UCSB opponent this season. Underwood made 6-of-11 shots and all but one of her six free throw tries.
In a narrow 51-50 win in Honolulu Saturday, Underwood again played an instrumental role with 13 points and four rebounds in 38 minutes. She hit 5-of-12 from the field and went a perfect 3-of-3 at the line.
While it didn’t appear in the box score, Underwood’s most important contribution may have occurred with the Gauchos trailing by one with 14 seconds remaining. Underwood set a screen for teammate Nicole Nesbit, who drove up the right side and made a layup for the game-winning points.
The Gauchos became the first Big West team in four tries to defeat the Rainbow Wahine on their home court this season.
For the week, Underwood averaged 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 47.8 (11 of 23) percent overall and 88.9 (8 of 9) percent from the free throw stripe.
The Gauchos will return home to the Thunderdome next week to host UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. The Highlanders will come to town on Thursday, Jan. 31 for a 7 p.m. match-up and the Titans will visit on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.
