Nov. 20, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - The 18th-ranked UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team was eliminated from the 2003 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament on with a 68-41 loss at No. 7 Texas Tech in United Spirit Arena.
The Gauchos, who fell to 2-1 on the young season, suffered their worst in nearly six years and scored the fewest points by a UCSB team since late in the 1989-90 season. Meanwhile the Lady Raiders remain perfect at 3-0, and advance to the WNIT Championship game, hosting 15th-ranked Rutgers on Sunday.
The opening minutes of this rematch of a 2003 NCAA Tournament Second Round game - narrowly won by TTU 72-68 - matched the intensity of last year's showdown. Santa Barbara led 7-5 at the 14:49 mark following a nice sky-hook by senior center Lindsay Taylor before Jia Perkins' jumper evened the score on Tech's next trip down the floor. That commenced a 10-0 run by the home team, but the Gauchos maintained their resiliency and pulled within 16-13 with 6:46 remaining when Lisa Willett drove baseline for an easy two. However baskets were at a premium for both squads in the opening half, and the Lady Raiders led just 32-22 at the break.
Things quickly went from bad to worse for UCSB after emerging from the locker room, as the visitors were saddled with seven personal fouls within the first five minutes of the second half. Taylor was whistled for two of those to give her four on the evening, and then had to watch from the bench as TTU reeled off 14 unanswered points to build a comfortable 56-30 cushion with 8:28 to play. Santa Barbara scored the next five points, but never mounted a serious challenge as the nine-time defending Big West Conference champs shot a forgettable four-for-26 (15.4%) over the final 20 minutes.
Taylor was the only Gaucho in double-figures with 12 points, and the only visiting player to make at least half her field goal tries, sinking four-of-eight. Meanwhile junior Kristen Mann's game-high 12 rebounds were one shy of her personal best.
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Perkins - like Taylor a Preseason John R. Wooden Award Candidate - led all scorers with 22 points. Senior Natalie Ritchie added 11 for the Lady Raiders, who shot just 37.7%. However UCSB connected on just 23.6% from the floor, and committed 19 turnovers compared to just 12 by the home team.
The Gauchos will look to regroup - and extend their current 25-game home winning streak - on Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they host 22nd-ranked Arizona. Tip-off in the Thunderdome is slated for 7:00 p.m.
