WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BIG WEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT : UC Santa Barbara Rallies, Upsets UNLV

UC Santa Barbara erased a 10-point second-half deficit at the Long Beach Arena on Thursday night and upset No. 21-ranked Nevada Las Vegas, 62-58, in a semifinal game of the Big West women’s basketball tournament.

Defending tournament champion Santa Barbara (18-11) faces top-seeded and 19th-ranked Hawaii (28-3) Saturday afternoon at 3 for the tournament title. Hawaii defeated New Mexico State, 93-70, in the other semifinal.

UNLV (23-5) led, 41-31, with 13 minutes to play on a basket by Teresa Jackson.

But Santa Barbara tied the score, 54-54, on two free throws by guard Cori Close with 3:12 to play.

Becky Brown rebounded and put in her own miss 23 seconds later, and the Gauchos never trailed again.

Brown finished with 16 points and Close had 12. Jackson, who averages nearly 23 points a game, scored 13.

It was only the fourth victory over Las Vegas for Santa Barbara in the last 25 tries.

Hawaii 93, New Mexico State 70--Top-seeded Hawaii got career scoring highs from forward Valerie Agee and guard Kaui Wakita.

Agee scored 28 points, including five three-point baskets, which tied a tournament record.