UCSB DEFEATS LONG BEACH STATE 85-70
UCSB Clinches Eighth Straight Big West Conference Title FEBRUARY 26, 2003 LONG BEACH, CA— No. 19-ranked UC Santa Barbara (20-4, 12-1 Big West) defeated Long Beach State (9-14, 5-8 Big West) 85-70 clinching its eighth straight Big West conference title. The loss hands Long Beach their 23 consecutive loss to Santa Barbara.
After a short lead by The Beach (50-49), UCSB took control of the game with a 20-4 run midway through the second half, as they led 69-54 with 7:52 remaining. Santa Barbara held on to a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Glory Johnson led The Beach with 22 points and 11 rebounds as LBSU shot 40% for the game and committed 20 turnovers. Lindsay Taylor led the Gauchos with 23 points. Kristen Mann added 15 points, while Jess Hansen had 14 points. Brandy Richardson led UCSB with 10 rebounds. Santa Barbara committed 17 turnovers for the game, and out-rebounded The Beach 43-35. UCSB shot 51% for the game. Keyed by three consecutive three-point baskets, LBSU brought the game to within two points, 45-43, with 16:00 remaining. A three-pointer by LBSU's Lauren Bull with 14:24 remaining gave Long Beach their first lead of the second half, 50-49. UCSB would then go on a 20-4 run to put the game away. UC Santa Barbara went into the locker room up seven, 39-32, after a tight first half. The Gauchos were 5-of-9 from the 3-point line. Santa Barbara out-rebounded Long Beach 24-17, but the big surprise of the half came as UCSB coughed up the ball 12 times. Long Beach State started off strong using an 8-0 run to lead 15-7 with 13:55 remaining in the first half. Santa Barbara came back to take the lead 22-21, with 6:35 remaining after LBSU's Candice Wilson received her third foul of the game. The Beach host Cal Poly on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. BOX SCORE | 
