Gauchos rally late to edge Bakersfield in women’s basketball

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - With less than four seconds left, junior Anya Choice blocked a three-point attempt by Cal State Bakersfield and fellow junior Alyssa Marin drew a foul recovering the loose ball. Marin's resulting free throw earned UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball their tenth win of the season, 63-62 Wednesday night at the Thunderdome.

UCSB (10-4, 3-1 Big West) controlled the game early, building an 8-2 lead in the first five minutes and leading 16-11 at the end of the first quarter, thanks in part to sinking all of their seven free throws in the frame. The Gauchos never trailed in the first half, and after the game's first 20 minutes they held a 32-25 lead.

In the third quarter, CSU Bakersfield (4-9, 1-4 Big West) fought their way back into the game while UCSB's offense went cold. The Gauchos shot 7.7% from the field in the quarter, while the Roadrunners hit 42.9% of their field goal attempts. By the end of the frame, UCSB's lead was down to one, 40-39.

A hectic fourth quarter looked to be going the visitors' way, with CSU Bakersfield leading 61-56 with 19 seconds left. Then freshman Jessica Grant hit a three to make it a one-possession game, and after the 'Runners missed one of two free throws, Marin drew and converted three of her own to tie the score with four seconds to go. She recovered the rebound from Choice's block and hit her eighth free throw of the night to give the Gauchos the lead for good.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics).