Strong Second Half Propels Beach Women’s Basketball to Win Over UC Santa Barbara

Thursday, February 9

Santa Barbara, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

16-7,11-2Big West

UC Santa Barbara

15-7,8-4Big West

Long Beach St.

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: ©John Fajardo Photography

Strong Second Half Propels Beach Women’s Basketball to Win Over UC Santa Barbara

2/9/2023 9:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Tori Harris led the way with her third 20-point performance of the season

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

Box Score (PDF)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Long Beach State trailed by as many as eight, but used a 10-0 run in the second half to pull out a nail-biting win, 58-57, over UC Santa Barbara at the Thunderdome on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to nine.

The Beach (16-7, 11-2 Big West) shot 42.1 percent from the field, while their defense collected 10 steals and forced the Gauchos (15-7, 8-4 Big West) into 17 turnovers.

LBSU was led by redshirt senior guard Tori Harris who finished with 21 points to mark her third 20-plus point performance of the season. Harris connected on 8-of-15 field goals to shoot 53.3 percent from the field, while making one from beyond the arc, and going 4-for-4 from the line. She also led the Beach in rebounding with eight boards, while adding three assists, and one steal.

Kianna Hamilton-Fisher turned in a solid performance reaching double-figures as well as she concluded the game with 10 points as she shot 50.0 from the field (5-10). She led the way with six assists, while adding four boards. Her three steals tied for the team lead with Lauren Green who also added four points, one block, and one rebound in LBSU's win.

The Beach used a 6-0 run in the first quarter to jump out to an 8-2 lead. However, the Gauchos managed to tie things up at 11-11 after scoring five-straight points of their own. A jumper by Hamilton-Fisher with less than a minute to go, sent Long Beach State into the second quarter with a 13-11 edge.

UC Santa Barbara found its groove in the second quarter as the Gauchos used an 8-0 to go up 21-17 over LBSU at 6:04. UCSB connected on 6-of-11 field goals and made 8-of-10 free throws in the frame to outscore the Beach, 21-13, and take a 32-26 lead at halftime.

Despite being down at the half, Long Beach State came out firing in the third quarter as the Beach made 9-of-14 field goals and turned the tables on the Gauchos outscoring the hosts 21-11 in the quarter. LSBU went on a 7-0 run as Harris scored nine points in the frame, while Hamilton-Fisher added six, helping Long Beach to a four-point (47-43) lead over UCSB heading into the fourth quarter.

The final 10 minutes were a nail-biter as UC Santa Barbara chipped away at LBSU's lead and made it a one-point game (54-53) with 4:47 remaining. Long Beach State managed to go back up by five (58-53) after a pair of made free throws by Harris at 2:33. But the Gauchos would not quit. UCSB pulled within one (58-57) with 1:30 left to play after a three from Alexis Tucker. The Beach turned in a strong defensive showing in the final minute and a half to secure the lead and win their ninth straight.

Ila Lane led UC Santa Barbara with 19 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. Tucker finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals. Callie Cooper dished out seven assists in the contest, but committed five turnovers.

Long Beach State looks to extend its streak to 10 when it hosts CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.