Same Old Story in Big West

UC Santa Barbara won its fifth consecutive Big West Conference women’s basketball title Saturday.

For the third consecutive season, the Gauchos defeated Long Beach State in the championship game. The 79-76 victory in front of 1,181 at the Anaheim Convention Center extended Santa Barbara’s conference tournament win streak to 15 games.

Some Long Beach fans wore T-shirts with an “Unfinished Business” slogan on the back, but it turned out to be business as usual for the Gauchos (22-8), whose victory was their 18th in a row over the 49ers (17-13).

It wasn’t a done deal, however, until Ekuah Ramsey’s shot from slightly beyond midcourt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Senior forward Rachelle Rogers led Santa Barbara with 25 points, earning the tournament’s most valuable player award. She made seven of 14 shots and 11 of 14 free throws. Kayte Christensen had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman center Lindsay Taylor had 14 points on six-of-eight shooting.

“We don’t have a most valuable player on this team,” Rogers said. “That’s why this has been gratifying. Having a lot of people playing well is more gratifying than having two or three players dominate.”

Santa Barbara dominated the conference last season en route to a 30-4 overall record, but three-time conference player of the year Erin Buescher transferred to the Master’s for religious reasons. Two other top players, Kristi Rohr and Stacy Clinesmith, completed their eligibility.

“I’m proud of this team,” Gaucho Coach Mark French said. “We’ve had our ups and downs this season, but the team has responded well.”

Guard Reta Sula led Long Beach with 22 points, 15 in the second half. She made six of seven three-point shots. Ramsey finished with 16 points, but the Gauchos held conference player of the year Jackie Moore to six shots from the field and six points. She fouled out with 5:21 to play.