STEVEN WILSON
News-Press Correspondent
It’s
said that a good defense can play well at home or on the road. That’s because
offenses can have a poor shooting day, or commit careless turnovers, but
defense is a mentality. The Gauchos know they need to bring their best
defensive performance today against Cal State Northridge because their offense
has proven to be lackluster as of late.
“For us, it feels like something natural,” sophomore guard Nicole
Nesbit said about the team’s defensive intensity. “Since day one, when coach
Mitch got here, it’s been about defense.”
That
philosophy has paid off. The Gauchos have the best defense in the Big West,
giving up just 47.8 points per game – 14 points less than the next best
defense.
“The
way coach Mitch prepares us for a team is very effective,” senior forward
Sweets Underwood said. “We hit all the spots that we need to, so that we’re
familiar with a team. Whether it’s a day or four days, going into the game we
feel very well prepared.”
UCSB
had a one-day turn-around yesterday after a disappointing 46-34 loss at Long
Beach State on Thursday night. They now have to travel just over 89 miles south
to take on the Matadors.
“They are very athletic but very young –
five of their starters are freshmen,” UCSB assistant coach Natalie Jarrett
said. “It’s going to be pretty similar to UC Irvine. They are going to try to
open up gaps and penetrate those gaps.”
The
Matador guards like to spread out the defense then drive the lane and get to
the free throw line. And when they get to the line, they make opponents pay.
They have already converted 285 out of 394 free throw attempts this season.
That’s a .723 percentage, but UCSB
knows a thing or two about making free throws. They lead the Big West with a
.746 average, but they don’t get to the line enough and have just 146 attempts
in 16 games this season.
“We
just need to take care of business, because we know this team could be great,”
Nesbit said.
The
silver lining in the loss to the 49ers was the second half play of Nesbit. She
scored seven of her team-high 11 points and recorded two steals. But Nesbit
can’t do it alone. After scoring a combined 31 points against UC Riverside at
home last week, Underwood and Kelsey Adrian went scoreless on Thursday.
“I
can’t even spell consistency with that, can I?” UCSB coach Carlene Mitchell
said. “It’s hard to win games unless you have three players in double figures.
The basket tended to get smaller after every miss.”
It
was hard for the Gauchos to get anything going on offense and they mustered a
cold 27.8 shooting percentage two nights ago. They may have been able to get
away with a night like that against the Matadors last year as they finished
with just a 4-26 record. Yet, thanks to their newcomers they lead the
conference this year with a 5-1 record.
“We
know they are a different team from last year,” Nesbit said “Everyone is a
different team from last year. We don’t really know what to expect.”
The
Gauchos spent all of yesterday studying film and learning what the Matadors do
well, and Nesbit admits those one-day study sessions can be tedious.
“It
is kind of difficult with a one-day prep, whereas you had three or four days to
prepare for the team before, but it’s just like any other game, pretty much,”
she said. “You get into practice – you need to get after it, learn what this
team is good at, and focus on that team. It’s a complete shift the day after a
game – you focus on the next team and just keep going.”
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