Jasmine Ware scored a career-high 21 points, but UC Irvine was still able to edge out UCSB 61-58 in the Thunderdome on Thursday night.
The Gauchos now stand at 0-6 in conference with an 0-19 record overall, while the Anteaters improve to 1-5 in the Big West and 4-17 on the season.
“It is disappointing for a player to have a career night and have it come in a loss,” UCSB Head Coach Carlene Mitchell said. “We missed some opportunities late in the game, but it was good to see Ware step up for the team when we needed her.”
Ware kept UCSB well in contention throughout the game and even gave the team its first lead at 18-17 with 5:56 left in the first.
The record setting basket for Ware came at the final buzzer off a layup following a sharp drive through the lane, but the junior recorded most of her points off her midrange jumper. Ware went 10-19 from the field and also collected six rebounds for the Gauchos. Following her in points scored was Dioseline Lopez with nine, as she played 21 minutes off the bench and added four assists.
While UC Irvine outrebounded UCSB 26-18 in the first half, the Gauchos came up stronger in the final 20 minutes as they finished with 42 boards compared to UCI’s 44. Kristine Brance led UCSB in the category with a career-high eight rebounds.
The Gauchos entered the second half down by six points, but fired off five unanswered points through the first two minutes. Brance opened the run with a layup, while Mi’Chael Wright came up with a put back basket to put UCSB within one-point.
Though the Anteaters’ defense bent, it did not break, as Irvine maintained its lead and even stretch it out to as many as 10 points.
In facing the deficit, the Gauchos looked to their defense to create plays on offense. Ware personified that plan when she picked off Irene Chavez’s inbounds pass and bolted down the floor for the open layup at the 4:45 mark, cutting into the lead at 50-47.
The Anteaters capitalized on missed shots by the Gauchos and hit back-to-back jumpers to capture an eight-point advantage with 1:02 left to play. To keep UCSB’s hopes alive, Watkins took an inbounds pass the baseline and connected on a jumper with an athletic move through the key. The Gauchos would string together three more points following that shot when Makala Roper dropped a three-pointer from the right wing to put her team within three points at 57-54 with 28 seconds left.
Forced to foul, the Gauchos sent the Anteaters to the line for their remaining possessions, picking four points from their six attempts to close out the decision.
UCSB will be back in the Thunderdome on Saturday to take on UC Davis starting at 2 p.m.
