THIS TEAM MAKES ITS OWN LUCK

STEVEN WILSON

News-Press Correspondent

Sure, it was lucky that Kassandra McCalister – the UC Irvine guard that torched the Gauchos for 57 points in just two games – did not start for the Anteaters in Tuesdays first round Big West Tournament matchup, but the UCSB womens basketball team knows that luck only carries you so far.

“She’s a great player, and I had a lot of sleepless nights after giving up 36 points to her last time,” UCSB head coach Carlene Mitchell said.

McCalister was held to a total of five points, partially because of her injuries, but mostly because of a stingy Gaucho defense.

“If you have someone harassing you as an offensive player it can make you a little hesitant and it can lead to unforced turnovers,” Mitchell said.

UCSB threw a posse of players at McCalister to limit her production. It worked and it helped the Gauchos earn a 61-51 victory to keep their season alive.

Mitchell is hoping once again, that the third time will be the charm today in the semifinals of the Big West Tournament as they play another team they have an 0-2 record against this season – Pacific.

“It’s perfect,” senior guard Emilie Johnson said. “This time of the year is really special. As a senior, you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. I just have to live in the moment and do anything I can to help my teammates be inspired and play their hearts out.”

Pacific, the team that knocked UCSB out of the playoffs in the first round last year, came into the tournament as the No. 5 seed and earned an opening victory over No. 4 UC Davis on Tuesday.

“I am always confident, never too cocky,” UCSB coach Carlene Mitchell. “We don’t worry about, and you can’t worry about, who you play. Irvine got us twice, and around this time of the year it is one and done, so you better bring your best game no matter who you’re playing.”

Pacific, which handed UCSB its worse loss this season (60-40) a week ago in Stockton, averages almost 69 points per game, which is good for second in the Big West. Kendall Rodriguez leads the Tigers with 12.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

“Whoever we’re playing is great, but at the end of the day it’s about us,” Johnson said. “We just have to do what we do best.”

For the Gauchos, what they do best is playing defense.

The UCSB defense, which allows a Big West-best 51 points per game, hasn’t had a problem shutting down Rodriguez. The Tiger Forward had only 14 total points in the two regular season matchups. It’s been the other Tigers that the Gauchos have struggled with.

In the first regular season matchup, UCSB gave up a game-high 14 points to Erica McKenzie, who scored seven of Pacific’s 12 points in the final five minutes to seal a 52-48 victory at the Thunderdome. In the second matchup between the teams it was Gena Johnson who led the Tigers with 17 points.

“It’s exciting that we get to play Pacific,” senior forward Kelsey Adrian said. “If you think about last year and what happened with them and even this year and how we didn’t beat them – it should be a good game.”

Last year’s season-ending loss to Pacific hasn’t been brought up by the team a lot this year, but it has been in the back of everyone’s mind these last two days.

“I am sure it will be brought up,” said sophomore guard Melissa Zornig who had a game high 15 points in the win over UCI. “But if anything, I think it will fire up the returners who were here last year. It was really upsetting – the whole team was really disappointed with that, so we’re excited to play them.”

Will UCSB finally overcome Pacific to earn a spot in the Big West Championship game? Only time will tell Mitchell says.