FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Despite Mi’Chael Wright’s career-high 11 points, UCSB could not keep up with Northern Arizona who came out on top in a 67-49 decision at the Rolle Activity Center on Sunday.
With the loss, the Gauchos fall to 0-4 on the season, while NAU evens its record at 2-2.
“I’m proud of the performance that Mi’Chael had today,” UCSB Head Coach Carlene Mitchell said. “She played with that blue collar mentality that I think we have been missing early in the season. She fought for rebounds and battled in the low post to get her shots.”
The battling paid off for Wright who finished with a perfect 4-4 shooting performance and also went 3-3 at the foul line.
While UCSB’s 25 percent shooting was reminiscent of Thursday night’s loss, the Gaucho offense did bounce back in the second half where the team went 40 percent from the floor. Overall, UCSB finished shooting at a 32.1 clip.
To start the second half, the Gauchos fed Wright the ball on the left block as she backed herself toward the basket and finished with physical shot.
Jasmine Ware – who was scoreless in the first half – helped the Gauchos in the early goings of the second in making a pair of midrange jumpers in a two-minute span.
Watkins added a field goal and Roper made a shot at the charity stripe in complimenting Ware’s and Wright’s effort during that stretch, but the Lumberjacks always found a responsive on the other end of the floor.
Erikka Banks led NAU with 23 points matching her point total from last year’s game between these teams. She also finished with seven rebounds, while center Raven Anderson paced the floor with eight boards and added 14 points.
NAU’s frontcourt pairing led the way in their team scoring 32 points in the paint and collecting 39 rebounds compared to the Gauchos’ 26.
