Swish Appeal: All Posts by Madison Agatha-ManceboBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2016-02-28T12:41:42-05:00https://www.swishappeal.com/authors/madison-agatha-mancebo/rss2016-02-28T12:41:42-05:002016-02-28T12:41:42-05:00Mustangs buck Gauchos in Blue-Green rivalry game
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<figcaption>Photo by Matt Aguirre </figcaption>
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<p>The UCSB Gauchos traveled just a couple hours north to their rival school, Cal Poly, only to go back home empty handed. This game truly was a battle for these rivalry teams, but the Mustangs ultimately secured the win over the Gauchos, 66-60. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>San Luis Obispo, CA --</b> The energy was flowing through Mott Gym as the two teams of the legendary Blue- Green Rivalry matched up. This was the Mustangs' last home game of the season, but for the graduating seniors, this was their last home game ever, which put extra determination on the court.</p>
<p>"It was awesome, it kind of scared me for a minute in the fourth quarter, but I'm glad that we were able to pull it out. It was a good way to end our careers here," said graduating senior, Beth Balbierz.</p>
<p>The Mustangs were hot out of the gate and held onto the lead for most of the first half. Dynn Leaupepe kicked it off for Cal Poly with the first shot of the game, but UCSB's Makala Roper came in with a three-pointer that got them ahead, but not for long. Cal Poly's Balbierz came back and did what she does best; hit a three that put the Mustangs back in front.</p>
<p>The second quarter is where things really started to pick up. UCSB's Chaya Durr made the first shot, but Cal Poly really stepped it up from there. Hannah Gilbert hit back-to-back shots, followed by success from Lisa Marie Sanchez and Dynn Leaupepe.</p>
<p>Dynn Leaupepe made two three-pointers back-to-back, followed by an assist on a third consecutive three-pointer right at the buzzer to her sister Lynn, going into halftime, 37-24. What a connection to have, one twin gets the rebounds, passes to her sister, who gathers momentum for the team going into half by draining the three.</p>
<p>It was clear that tensions built up in the second half of the game base on both teams performance -- defenses were stronger, and both offenses fought harder. As the saying goes, good defense, better offense.</p>
<p>Balbierz made an impressive shot that spun backward off her hands and straight into the bucket.</p>
<p>Dynn Leaupepe continued to have success at the net along with sister, Lynn Leaupepe. Dynn posted 20 points, four steals, six rebounds and two assist. Twin sister Lynn also filled the stat sheet with 13 points, four steals, five rebounds, two assist, plus one block.</p>
<p>The Gauchos were fighting hard to grasp a comeback with extraordinary shots from Jasmine Ware, Makala Roper and Chaya Durr.</p>
<p>Just when the Gauchos were beginning to catch up, Balbierz hit a three with 36 seconds left in the game that brought the Mustangs a little more time.</p>
<p>The Mustangs sealed the deal with a couple free throws, and Cal Poly secured their win against Santa Barbara, 66-60.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/2/28/11127726/sisterly-bond-leads-mustangs-chargeMadison Agatha-Mancebo2016-02-04T01:10:58-05:002016-02-04T01:10:58-05:00Gauchos let it rain from deep
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<figcaption>Photo by Tony Mastres</figcaption>
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<p>Three’s company and threes are here to stay. The Titans tried to walk away from UCSB’s Thunderdome with a win, but the Gauchos successful three-pointers would not allow that. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>Santa Barbara, CA -- </b>The Thunderdome in UCSB was by no means packed for this game, but with the energy of these two teams, you would have never noticed. Being home for the first time in two weeks definitely brought more energy to the Gauchos and their fans.</p>
<p>UCSB's Makala Roper dominated the first quarter for the Gauchos. Roper got this to an 18-point game in the first quarter alone with help from teammate Onome Jemerigbe.</p>
<p>Roper and her teammates were not afraid to shoot the threes, and with good reason, they made six in just the first quarter.</p>
<p>UCSB's head coach Bonnie Hendrickson says, "We're unselfish, we share the ball, we drive and kick and recognize if nobody on the floor has a better shot then it's my shot."</p>
<p>Cal State Fullerton's Michelle Berry tried to salvage the first quarter for the Titans, but Roper sealed it with a shot at 28-10.</p>
<p>The Titans held strong going into the second quarter, Berry putting her first three on the board followed by shots from Dhanyel Johnson and Jade Vega. Numerous times Berry worked to slow down Santa Barbara and get her team back into the game, however she continued to run into another Gaucho draining a three, extending the lead.</p>
<p>This quarter started to slow down toward the end where there were a lot of missed shots, but Coco Miller came in hot for UCSB with a three and, of course, Roper ended the first half with a three, 46-25.</p>
<p>The whole gym could see that Roper was fire behind the arc, but she gave a humble response when asked what her key to success was. "Attacking and getting the easy shots, not forcing it and letting the game come to me."</p>
<p>Her humble answer compared to a very popular name in the basketball community, Steph Curry. When he happens to light up another team with his threes, he doesn't brag, much like Roper did tonight. Individually she had the same amount of threes as the entire Cal State Fullerton team, that says something in itself, along with a personal run of 7-0 during the first half. Letting the game come to her allowed her to drain threes from all over the court.</p>
<p>What made Roper's performance even more enjoyable wasn't just her shooting ability, she was all over the court. She led the team in rebounding with five, (Jasmine Ware also had five) got one assist on the night and capped it all off with six assist. Yes her teammates were able to find her, however she too was able to find them. Her ability to be an all around player definitely flashed tonight.</p>
<p>Following the theme of the night, Miller kicked off the second half with a three for UCSB followed by another later in the quarter. The old saying goes "if it isn't broke, don't fix it," so it only made sense the Gauchos continue where they left off in the first half; draining threes.</p>
<p>UCSB was able to hold their 20-point lead over the Titans for the majority of the third quarter, until Fullerton's Berry made a free throw after an official's call that sounded like the whole gym disagreed with.</p>
<p>The Gauchos did not let the call set them back, they were up by 20 after all, and Roper bumped that 20 to a 30-point lead with yet another three.</p>
<p>UCSB finished off the third quarter with double Fullerton's score, 68-34. Home sweet home it was for the Gauchos, not giving the Titans any chance to get back into the game entering the fourth quarter. They got the lead and never let up which any team should do when they get a big lead on their opponent.</p>
<p>Disoline Lopez kicked off the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, before the quarter began to seem a bit slower than the rest of the game.</p>
<p>The Gauchos finished off the Titans 79-49. If you want to talk about a team effort, tonight's game displayed that. Whereas the Titans only had seven assist on the night, UCSB had 27! Whenever a team has that many assist, they're going to be hard to beat. Onnome Jemerigbe led her team with 11 assist on the night, posting a career-high.</p>
<p>The Titans are set to play UC Davis on Saturday, February 6<sup>th</sup> in Fullerton continuing Big West play. Also, on February 6<sup>th,</sup> the Gauchos will host Hawaii's Rainbow Wahine in the Thunderdome.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/2/4/10911806/ucsb-storms-past-titans-30-point-steph-curryMadison Agatha-Mancebo2015-12-31T22:00:09-05:002015-12-31T22:00:09-05:00San Diego continues its red-hot start
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<figcaption>Photo by Brock Scott</figcaption>
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<p>Pacific didn’t give up easily, but San Diego defeated the Tigers, 69-56, and the Toreros are now 12-1. </p> <p><b>San Diego, CA --</b> It was a back and forth contest for both teams in the first quarter, West Coast Conference player of the week, Maya Hood getting things going for San Diego. Teammates, Sydney Williams and junior Katherine Hamilton, started to get going as well and were hot, helping the Toreros finish off the first quarter ahead, but not by far at 16-14.</p>
<p>Things heated up in the second quarter with Pacific's offense becoming more aggressive. Senior forward for Pacific, Erin Butler, was dishing out three-pointers with confidence and helped push the Tigers ahead of the Toreros 35-29 heading into half time.</p>
<p>It seemed like the Toreros were not quite ready to give up their winning streak. Their defense was aggressive coming into the second half, and shots were made from Maya Hood and Katherine Hamilton but it was Malina Hood who got San Diego tied back up with Pacific.</p>
<p>Coach Cindy Fisher said, "Effort is nothing I ever have to talk to them in a game about ever."</p>
<p>Williams was active the whole night, and continued to impress in the third with a three-pointer that pushed the Toreros ahead of the Tigers. "The third quarter really changed our momentum and built up our confidence," Williams said about what they the key to success was in this game.</p>
<p>Malina and Maya Hood were making their presence known as well, helping San Diego gain a 10-point lead over Pacific, and finishing off the third quarter 51-41.</p>
<p>The Tigers fought through the last quarter with shots from Butler and a three-pointer from Eackles, but this was not enough to steal the lead from the Toreros. Coach Bradley Davis said that the team will be working on getting more comfortable with their new roles and lineup changes going into their next game against BYU.</p>
<p>As for San Diego, they will go on to play Saint Mary's, January 2<sup>nd</sup> for another WCC game.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa/2015/12/31/10697836/sydney-williams-dazzles-san-diego-crowd-12-1Madison Agatha-Mancebo