Jan. 28, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Despite 17 points and 15 rebounds from senior Carolina Ruiz (Paradise, Calif.) the Pacific Tigers women's basketball team dropped a 64-62 decision to UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Jan. 28.
The loss dropped Pacific to 5-14 on the season and 2-5 in the Big West Conference, while UC Santa Barbara moved to 10-8 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
With six points separating the two teams at half, the Tigers and Gauchos put on a show in the second half, trading baskets and runs, culminating in a last second opportunity for Pacific to send the game into overtime.
Trailing by seven with 4:05 to play in the game, the Tigers followed behind the hot hand of sophomore Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.) who scored eight unanswered points to give the Tigers a one point lead with just 1:35 to play. A turnover and two trips to the charity stripe later, the Tigers found themselves playing from behind with a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime, or even win in regulation, down 64-62, with :11 seconds remaining in the game. Pacific called Lavender's number, setting up a play from which she drove the left lane, stopped and popped a 12 footer. Her shot banked in, and then rimmed out to the dismay of the Pacific faithful.
The first half of the contest was primarily controlled by UC Santa Barbara, as the Gauchos built a lead of as much as nine points, led by Karena Bonds who had 10 points by the break. She was matched by Ruiz who scored 10 of her 17 points in the first period.
For the Tigers, Ruiz capped off her stellar weekend with her third double-double of the season and in conference play, notching 17 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. Additionally, Ruiz added three assists, a block and two steals to round out her day. Lavender led all scorers with 19 points, hitting 3-of-9 from distance, two of which came during her eight late points. Junior Jerise Freeman (Wichita, Kan.) had her second consecutive game scoring in double figures as she notched 11 points. Junior Wyvonne Jones (Wichita, Kan.) posted a team season-high and career-high nine assists, as the Tigers finished with 19 assists on the day.
UC Santa Barbara also had three players reach double figures as Karena Bonds scored 18 to lead the Gauchos. Bonds went 7-of-8 from the free throw line with her final free throw capping off the Gauchos' scoring and pushing their final lead to two points. Jenna Green and Kat Suderman each posted six rebounds in the post for the Gauchos while Green scored 12 points and Suderman netted 10.
The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 2 as Pacific hosts UC Davis at 5 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center.
