Green’s double-double sparks Gauchos to title

Jenna Green had 13 points and 11 rebounds, Emilie Johnson had 13 points and UC Santa Barbara rallied for a 64-57 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the Big West Conference tournament championship Saturday at Anaheim.

Christine Spencer scored 11 points off the bench for the top-seeded Gauchos (22-9), who qualified for the NCAA tournament by winning their 11th Big West title in 13 years.

Santa Barbara will appear in the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in 13 years.

Megan Harrison had 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals for the third-seeded Mustangs (21-11), who were playing in their first tournament final. Lisa McBride had 10 points.

Santa Barbara’s Lauren Pedersen was selected most valuable player.

San Luis Obispo, which led by 15 points in the first half, moved ahead, 56-55, on Kristina Santiago’s lay-in with 1 minute 44 seconds to play. But Spencer converted a rebound to give Santa Barbara a 57-56 lead with 1:12 left.

Spencer blocked Harrison’s lay-in try with 52 seconds left and Pedersen got the rebound. Green scored on a lay-in with 28 seconds left, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw to give the Gauchos a 60-56 lead.