Gauchos’ Heroine Is Hansen

Jess Hansen never looked for a teammate, never looked to pass to someone else to take the final shot.

After leading her team back from a 13-point deficit, Hansen figured it was time to be the hero.

Hansen’s leaning 16-footer between two defenders with 1.1 seconds left helped UC Santa Barbara stun Louisiana Tech, 57-56, Friday night in the first round of the East Regional at Austin, Texas.

The victory extended the 12th-seeded Gauchos’ winning streak to 22 and sends them to Sunday’s second-round game against fourth-seeded Texas.

The loss sent the fifth-seeded Lady Techsters (25-5) home after a first-round loss in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1992. Louisiana Tech was ranked eighth at the end of the regular season.

Hansen’s buzzer-beater capped a frantic finish in which she scored all of her 13 points in the second half.

The Gauchos (26-5) trailed, 44-31, with 12:50 left. Hansen sparked the rally with three three-point baskets and Kayte Christensen’s turnaround jumper gave Santa Barbara its first lead of the half, 55-54, with 2:14 to play.

Brooke Lassiter put Louisiana Tech up, 56-55, with 1:39 left with two free throws. It had a chance to extend its lead with 8.9 seconds left when Christensen missed an eight-footer for the lead and Cheryl Ford was fouled on the rebound.

But Ford missed the front end of a one-and-one. UC Santa Barbara’s Lindsay Taylor grabbed the rebound and passed to Hansen, who dribbled up court for the game winner.

Louisiana Tech tried to set up one last play, but the 6-foot-8 Taylor blocked the inbounds pass by 5-9 Amber Obaze. With only 0.4 seconds left, Louisiana Tech couldn’t get off a last shot.

“Whoever put them as a 12 seed didn’t do their homework,” Louisiana Tech Coach Leon Barmore said. “They were the toughest opening-round opponent we’ve ever had.”

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In other East Regional games:

Texas 60, Wisconsin Green Bay 55--Asha Hill scored 14 points in the second half for the Longhorns at Austin, Texas. Hill made all of her shots--including four for four on three-point attempts and two clinching free throws in the final seconds--for fourth-seeded Texas (21-9).

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Duke 95, Norfolk State 48--Alana Beard scored 29 points as the top-seeded Blue Devils raced to a 28-2 lead and led by as many as 55 at Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils (28-3) won a school-record 19th consecutive game. Norfolk State ended 22-9.

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Texas Christian 55, Indiana 45--Kati Safaritova scored 12 points to help eighth-seeded TCU (24-6) win at Durham, N.C. Indiana (17-14), making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1995, shot only 24% and committed 20 turnovers.

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Drake 87, Syracuse 69--Maureen Head scored 21 points to lead seventh-seeded Drake at Waco, Texas. Leading 50-44 with just under 17 minutes remaining in the second half, the Bulldogs (24-7) went on a 17-3 run to put it out of reach.

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Baylor 80, Bucknell 56--Steffanie Blackmon had 21 points and 11 rebounds for second-seeded Baylor (27-5) at Waco, Texas. Baylor shot 60% from the field in the first half and led, 47-27.

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MIDEAST REGIONAL

Kansas St. 93, Kent St. 65--Laurie Koehn made five three-pointers and finished with 27 points to help third-seeded Kansas State (25-7) win at Manhattan, Kan. Nicole Ohlde and Kendra Wecker each scored 22 points for Kansas State.

Arkansas 78, Clemson 68--Shamika Christon scored 36 points as sixth-seeded Arkansas won at Manhattan, Kan. Arkansas (20-11) went on a 9-0 run with four minutes remaining in the first half to lead by 12.

Penn State 82, Chattanooga 67--Kelly Mazzante scored 26 points and Tanisha Wright tied her career high with 19 as fourth-seeded Penn State (22-11) won at State College, Pa.

Florida International 73, Creighton 58--Gergana Slavtcheva scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half and Mandy Shafer made two key three-point baskets for fifth-seeded Florida International at State College, Pa.

FIU (27-5) held Creighton scoreless over the last 4:47, with Shafer’s three-point basket giving the Golden Panthers a 65-58 lead with 2:17 left.

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MIDWEST REGIONAL

Tennessee 98, Georgia St. 68--Gwen Jackson had 28 points and 10 rebounds as the second-seeded Lady Vols (26-4) won at Knoxville, Tenn. to record their 39th consecutive home victory.

Notre Dame 58, New Mexico 44--Alicia Ratay scored 14 points and reserve Jacqueline Batteast added 13 as defending national champion and seventh-seeded Notre Dame (20-9) won at Knoxville, Tenn.

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WEST REGIONAL

Mississippi State 65, Boston College 59--LaToya Thomas had 27 points and 15 rebounds to help the 12th-seeded Bulldogs (19-11) win at Lubbock, Texas. Boston College (23-8) scored only two points in the final 2:30 on Jessalyn Deveny’s basket at the buzzer.

Texas Tech 84, Stephen F. Austin 63--Tanisha Ellison scored a career-high 20 points at Lubbock, Texas, to help fourth-seeded Texas Tech (19-11) win its eighth consecutive first-round game. Stephen F. Austin finishes 24-6.

Colorado 88, Southern 61--Britt Hartshorn scored 15 points to lead five Colorado players in double figures for the third-seeded Buffaloes (22-9) at Boulder, Colo. Colorado shot 59% from the field, took a 20-point halftime lead and was never threatened.

Louisiana State 84, Santa Clara 78--Doneeka Hodges had 22 points and Aiysha Smith had 17 points and 12 rebounds to help sixth-seeded LSU (18-11) hold off the Broncos (21-10) late to win at Boulder, Colo.