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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Following a tough loss in their initial road game of the season, the UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball team is gearing up to return to The Thunderdome, where they will kick off a crucial four-game homestand starting this Thursday, Nov. 14. This week, the Gauchos will play host to the University of Nevada’s Wolf Pack and the San Jose State Spartans, both of which promise to be exciting matchups.
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
The Wolf Pack heads into Thursday night’s showdown against the Gauchos with a record of 1-2, having secured their only victory over Bushnell. Unfortunately, they faced challenging defeats against Oregon and in a neutral site clash with Colorado.
Offensively, Kennedy Lee and Lexie Givens are the driving forces for Nevada. Lee averages an impressive 13.7 points per game, while Givens contributes 12.3 points per contest. The tandem has been particularly effective shooting the ball, combining for a remarkable .604 percentage from the field. Givens has also demonstrated her prowess from long range with a stellar .583 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Defensively, the Wolf Pack has been somewhat vulnerable, allowing an average of 66.3 points per game across their initial three outings. Opponents have capitalized on this, shooting at a .442 percentage. To date, the team has managed only six blocked shots while recording 21 steals early in the season.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San Jose State arrives at The Thunderdome boasting a strong 2-1 record, having achieved victories against Xavier and San Francisco State. Their sole setback came at the hands of Cal. The Spartans enter the game averaging 66.7 points per outing and shooting at a .424 clip from the field. Notably, they’ve excelled on the boards, out-rebounding their opponents by nearly seven rebounds per game.
Offensively, San Jose State thrives through a balanced attack led by the dynamic trio of Finau Tonga, Djessira Diawara, and Rylei Waugh, who collectively average 33.7 points per game. Tonga stands out as the leading scorer with an average of 14.7 points per game and also contributes significantly with 7.0 rebounds per contest. Importantly, all three players shoot over .400 percent from the field, indicating their efficiency and skill.
Defensively, San Jose State has allowed opponents to score only 61.0 points per game. They excel in limiting their rivals to a mere .343 shooting percentage from the floor. Thus far, they’ve recorded six blocks and an impressive 22 steals while forcing 53 turnovers in the first three games.
FOLLOW ALONG
The highly anticipated contest between the Gauchos and the Wolf Pack is set to tip off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. Following this matchup, UC Santa Barbara will face the San Jose State Spartans at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17. Fans can catch both games streamed live on ESPN+, with real-time statistics available through ucsbgauchos.com.
**Interview with UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball Coach about Upcoming Homestand**
**Editor:** Thanks for joining us today, Coach! After a tough road loss, your team is returning to The Thunderdome for a four-game homestand. What are the key focuses for the Gauchos as you prepare for this stretch of games?
**Coach:** Thanks for having me! We’re really excited to be back home. For us, it’s about focusing on our defensive strategies and improving our offensive cohesion. We’ve reviewed our last game, and it’s clear that we need to tighten up on defense, especially given our opponents’ shooting abilities.
**Editor:** Speaking of opponents, you’ll be facing the University of Nevada’s Wolf Pack this Thursday. They have some strong offensive players in Kennedy Lee and Lexie Givens. How are you planning to contain them?
**Coach:** Absolutely, both Lee and Givens have shown they can score efficiently. We’ll need to apply pressure defensively, particularly on the perimeter, to limit their scoring opportunities. I’m confident that our defense can step up, but it will require everyone to be engaged and focused.
**Editor:** After playing against strong teams, what lessons do you take into these upcoming games against Nevada and San Jose State?
**Coach:** Each game teaches us something new. We’ve learned that we can’t afford to be complacent — every team we face will bring their best. We aim to build on our experiences and maintain a high level of intensity and execution both offensively and defensively.
**Editor:** The homestand is an important opportunity to build momentum for the season. What do you hope to achieve during this time?
**Coach:** Our primary goal is to secure wins, of course, but beyond that, we want to build our confidence and establish a strong home-court advantage. It’s crucial for the team’s morale, and we hope to see our fans rally behind us at The Thunderdome!
**Editor:** Thanks for sharing your insights, Coach. Best of luck against Nevada this Thursday!
**Coach:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and hope to see everyone out there!
