Nov. 3, 2003
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Showing little offensive rust from the seven-month off-season, the UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team defeated Latvian Select 87-71 in its first exhibition action of 2003-04 Monday night in the Thunderdome.
Six different players scored in double-figures - led by newcomers Jenna Green and April McDivitt with 13 points apiece - as the Gauchos dished off 21 assists with only 16 turnovers against a team of all-stars from the Baltic nation.
UCSB scored the game's first four points on quick baskets from sophomore Mia Fisher and senior Lisa Willett, but the Latvians remained close, knotting the score at 17-17 with 14:17 remaining in the first half following a free throw. At that point the home team embarked on a 9-0 run ignited by McDivitt's first field goal as a Gaucho and capped by four straight Fisher points. Latvian select later closed its deficit within six, but another string of nine straight points just before halftime game Santa Barbara all the breathing room it needed. The eight-time defending Big West Conference Champions took a 49-34 advantage into the locker rooms as they shot 52.8% during the game's first 20 minutes.
After intermission, UCSB built a 20-point cushion on eight separate occasions, the last of which made the scoreboard read 82-62 following a nice sky hook by post player Kate Bauman. She finished the contest with 10 points, while fellow juniors Fisher, Brandy Richardson and Autumn Nichols contributed 11 apiece. The only one of Santa Barbara's five newcomers who did not reach double-figures was freshman point guard Erin O'Bryan, however the Gilbert, Ariz., native did dish off five assists vs. only one turnover, totals matched by McDivitt.
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For the Latvians, Sanita Dvinska was clearly their go-to player, pouring in a game-high 24 points on 10-of-23 shooting while also hauling down eight rebounds. Ieva Tare and Anita Mikale were the visitors' next highest scorers with 14 and 11 points, respectively. As a team Latvian Select was out-shot by the Gauchos 47.2% to 39.1%, and lost the battle of the boards by a 46-41 margin.
UCSB - ranked among the nation's preseason top-25 by five different media entities - concludes exhibition play on Friday, Nov. 7 vs. the National Women's Basketball League at 7:00 p.m. in the Thunderdome. The 2003-04 campaign begins on Saturday, Nov. 15 as Santa Barbara hosts a first round Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament game against San Diego at 1:00 p.m.
