Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - A slow shooting night hindered the Pacific women's basketball team as the Tigers pushed the UC Santa Barbara Guachos, but fell, 71-58.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 8-12 on the season and 3-4 in the Big West Conference. UC Santa Barbara, meanwhile, moved to 12-6 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

A slow start to the contest put the Tigers in a 15-3 hole with 12:14 left to play in the first half. After gathering themselves from their early stumble, the Tigers battled Gauchos back and forth the remainder of the half, trailing 36-26 at halftime.

UC Santa Barbara got off to another quick burst in the second half as the Gauchos stretched their lead to 17 points at 43-26 with 13:58 remaining in the game.

Moments later, trailing 50-34, the Tigers mounted a comeback. Led back five straight points from junior Janae Young (Sacramento, Calif.) the Tigers went on an 8-0 run to pull within eight at 50-42. Unfortunately, that was as close as Pacific would get.

UC Santa Barbara scored the next four points of the game to push back out in front by 12 at 54-42. The Gauchos went on for the 71-58 victory.

Young and junior Amy VanHollebeke (San Diego, Calif.) led the team with 14 points each, while senior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.) finished with 13 points.

Sha'Rae Gibbons led all scorers with 23 points for the Gauchos.

Pacific returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 2 as the Tigers travel to local rival UC Davis to face the Aggies at 4:45 p.m. The contest is part of a double-header with the men's basketball team. The men's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.