POSTSEASON OF REVENGE

Record-setting night for UCSB in semifinals

STEVEN WILSON

News-Press Correspondent

            Never underestimate an underdog. After losing the first four combined regular season matchups against UC Irvine and Pacific, the UC Santa Barbara womens basketball team earned some revenge when it mattered most – in the postseason.

The Gauchos, who entered the Big West Tournament as the No. 6 seed, showed fans what they have been waiting for all year as they set individual and team records in an 84-66 victory over No. 5 Pacific on Friday in the semifinals, advancing to the finals for the first time in three years.

“I am at a loss of words, which is rare for me,” UCSB coach Carlene Mitchell said.

            Mitchell didn’t need to say anything though. She just let her team speak for her. UCSB scored a season-high 82 points thanks to career-high scoring outings from Melissa Zornig (23) and Nicole Nesbit (20). Emilie Johnson added 20 points with 10 points coming from the free throw line.

“You look at their height and maybe I am a point guard coach or a small guard coach,” Mitchell joked. “We had everyone under 5-foot-6 today with 20 points.

“It’s unheard of right? All year long I have heard how we win 50 to 49, and I’ve tried to convince everyone I am okay with 80, but the other team can only score 50, or I guess 79.”

            It’s Zornig who has surprised everyone but her coach this postseason. After scoring a game-high 15 points in a win over UC Irvine in the first round, the sophomore guard came off the bench against the Tigers and provided an instant offensive spark.

            “Coach Mitchell just told us to have an attack mentality,” Zornig said. “As of late, I think our team has done a really good job of attacking and either scoring or kicking it out.”

            Zornig and Nesbit both started the game on the bench, but just six minutes in, they were called upon.

Nesbit tied the game at 15-15 twelve minutes into the game with a transition jumper. On their next possession, Zornig gave the Gauchos their first lead since the opening basket with a layup. The Gaucho bench earned a total of 51 points in the game.

            “Coming off the bench you do have somewhat of an advantage,” Nesbit said. “You can kind of see how the team is playing. You can see if, maybe they are trapping, or maybe they are switching, and you don’t have to be on the floor to make those mistakes, because you can see it from the bench.”

            Erica McKenzie, who had a team-high 17 points for Pacific, tied the game at 21-21 with a 15-foot jumper with 7:18 left in the first half. UCSB would make 10 of their last 11 shots before halftime to take a 37-28 lead into the break – The Gauchos would not relinquish their lead in the second half. The 37 points was the second most points UCSB has scored in a first half this season.

            “We came in with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder,” Nesbit said. “Knowing how horrible it felt last year – to be at the top of the conference and lose to the last seed, on your home floor. So when we came out here, we knew we had to buckle down and play a solid 40 minutes to get the win.”

            The Gauchos would extend their lead to as much as 20 in the second half thanks to two free throws from Johnson. The senior was just 4-of-8 from the floor, but 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.

            “I am excited for her and (Adrian) to have a chance to play for a Big West Championship,” Mitchell said. “As seniors, they have meant so much to this program… It means everything to me, even though I have only had a year to coach them. Their teammates know that too, and we’re going to jump on their back and see how far they can take us.”

            The Gauchos shot an incredible 59 percent from the floor in the second half.

“They had fresh legs and they were just knocking down jumpers,” Mitchell said. “They were playing free and I have tried all year long to get them to buy into the fact that it’s in transition where we are best.”

            To some, the upset may be a surprise, but not to Zornig.

            “We knew we could beat them,” Zornig said. “We’ve known that all season and today was the day to beat them.”

            The Gauchos will try to earn their 14^th Big West Title in program history tomorrow at the Honda Center as they take on No. 7 Long Beach State. The 49ers pulled off a true shocker on Friday morning as they defeated No. 1 Cal Poly, 51-48. UCSB is 1-1 against Long Beach this season and is the highest seed left in the tournament.

            “We are going to have our hands full,” Mitchell said about the 49er’s athleticism. “Again, it will be the same mindset for coaches – a get after it, defensive mindset.”