Box Score

Santa Barbara, Calif. – UC Irvine managed just four points in two different quarters as UC Santa Barbara beat the Anteaters 66-37 at the Thunderdome Thursday.

Freshman Andee Ritter led UCI with nine points, all scored in the third quarter. Junior Mckenzie Piper went 4-8 from the floor and finished with eight points and five rebounds. Senior Raelyn Cheung-Sutton and Paulina Santana each added six points. Freshman Tayla Jackson shared the team lead in rebounds with five.

The Anteaters (4-23, 1-12) finished the night shooting 31% (18-58) from the floor and did not make a free throw (0-3). UCI was out-rebounded 53-30.

UCSB (11-17, 8-6) was led by Jasmine Ware's 17 points and eight rebounds. Taylor Farris came off the bench to lead the squad with 13 rebounds plus adding nine points. Je Zhe Newton had nine points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action.  The Gauchos shot 42.4% (25-59) from the field and took advantage of the free throw line, going 11-19. UCSB hit five three-pointers, while UCI made one.

UCI's Mckenzie Piper would score six straight points to tie the score (8-8) at 4:23 of the first quarter. UCSB would then out-score UCI 13-2 to end the period with 21-10 lead.

UCI would manage just four points in the second quarter, a basket by Tayla Jackson at 8:34 then a layup by Chloe Kellum with 45 seconds left as UCSB would hold a 37-14 advantage at the half.

Andee Ritter tried to rally the Anteaters scoring nine of UCI's 19 third quarter points. Five quick points by Ritter and a bucket by Piper narrowed the deficit to 38-21 at 7:46. Nine consecutive points by Jasmine Ware, the last a layup at 2:37, built the Gaucho lead back to 50-29. UCI out-scored UCSB 19-15 in the period but trailed 52-33 heading in to the final period.

The Anteater offense sputtered again in the fourth quarter, scoring just four to the Gauchos' 14.

UCI makes its final road stop of the year on Saturday (Feb. 27), traveling to Long Beach State for a 12:30 p.m. tip from the Walter Pyramid.