March 1, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Four Tigers finished in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers fell to UC Santa Barbara, 79-67, on Thursday, Mar. 1.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 8-20 on the season and 2-11 in the Big West Conference, while UC Santa Barbara moved to 16-12 overall and 9-4 in conference play.

Pacific fell behind early in the first half as the Gauchos built an 18-6 lead with 8:23 remaining in the first half. The Tigers responded with a barrage of three pointers triggered by sophomore Renee Roberts (Lodi, Calif.) and freshman Jake Kelly (Sacramento, Calif.). Roberts and Kelly each hit three triples as the duo led a 20-6 run, lifting Pacific to a 26-24 lead with 4:33 remaining in the half.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, UC Santa Barbara rallied with a run of their own outscoring the Tigers, 12-6 down the stretch of the first half to take a 36-32 lead into the break.

The second half saw the Tigers once again get off to a slow start as UC Santa Barbara pushed its lead to 17 points on two separate occasions.

Down 59-42 with 8:17 left in the game, Pacific found their stroke from the outside again as the Tigers. This time Kelly teammed with junior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Calif.) as Kelly cut the deficit to 59-45, then Lavender nailed back-to-back threes to pull the Tigers within eight at 59-51.

A layup from sophomore Karen Dawkins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) pulled Pacific even closer at 59-53 with 6:16 remaining in the game. Following a defensive stop by the Tigers, Lavender had an open look at another three-pointer on a fast break, but her shot rimmed in and out.

Pacific would get no closer as UC Santa Barbara closed the door on the Tigers, earning a 79-67 win.

Kelly led Pacific with 18 points in the contest. Roberts and Dawkins each finished with 12 points, while Lavender tossed in 11 points.

LaShay Fears led the Gauchos with a game-high 23 points, followed by 20 points from Jessica Wilson.

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, Mar. 3 as Pacific hosts Cal Poly in the regular season finale at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m., prior to the contest Pacific will honor seniors Wyvonne Jones (Wichita, Kan.) and Jerise Freeman (Wichita, Kan.) during the senior ceremony.