Dec. 30, 1999
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - The University of California Santa Barbara rallied from a 6-point second-half deficit and Gonzaga University went 15:18 with just one second-half field goal as the 22nd-ranked Gauchos grabbed a 76-58 non-conference women's basketball victory Thursday night in The Kennel.
The Bulldogs (7-4) suffered their first home loss in five outings this season, while UCSB (9-3) swept its swing through eastern Washington, which began with Tuesday's 89-73 victory at Washington State University.
Holly Bruno, who led all scorers with 19 points, converted a layin with 17:02 remaining to give Gonzaga a 41-35 lead. But the Bulldogs would go as ice cold as the weather outside, Jessica Malone's 3-pointer with 12:53 putting the Bulldogs back in front 44-42 for the final field goal until 62 ticks of the clock were left and the Gauchos comfortably in front 74-54. During that stretch the Bulldogs missed 15 shots and were guilty of 14 turnovers.
The Bulldogs, 11-for-22 from the field in the first half and 5-for-8 from 3-point range, hit 6-of-24 second-half field goal attempts and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc.
While the Bulldogs went cold from the field, Gonzaga need only look in the free throw column to see where the game was really lost. The Bulldogs hit just 17-of-37 free throws for 45.9 percent, while the Gauchos were converting 18-of-21 charity tosses.
UCSB struggled in the first half, due in large part to a tenacious Gonzaga defense which held the Gauchos to just 12-of-36 from the field, including 4-of-7 from long range. UCSB shot just 35.7 percent from the field for the game (25-of-70). Stacy Clinesmith, a product of Spokane's Mead High, made her homecoming successful by leading UCSB with 15 points and 7 assists. She was just 4-for-11 from the field, but 3-of-8 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the line. Jessica Hansen scored 11 points, and Erin Buescher 10.
Sydney Perno turned in a solid two-way effort for the Bulldogs, scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds for the second time this season, one shy of her career high 14 set last season. Gonzaga won the battle of the boards 44-42, but the Bulldogs were able to turn 19 rebounds into just 9 second-chance points while the Gauchos grabbed 21 offensive boards which led to 18 second-chance points.
The Bulldogs had 36 turnovers that UCSB turned into 38 points.
Gonzaga will be back in action next Wednesday at Boise State University, starting a stretch of four straight road games to usher in the new millennium.
