SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – University of California Santa Cruz's Alexa Litchev made two free throws with 0.5 seconds left and lifted the Banana Slugs to a 61-60 win against the Hamilton College Continentals in the 2023 December Classic at UCSC's Kaiser Permanente Arena on Thursday, Dec. 21.
 

Season Update

• Hamilton (10-1 overall) was dealt its first loss this season. Only five undefeated teams in Division III had more wins than the Continentals did going into tonight.
• The Banana Slugs (5-6), who are members of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, had lost their previous five games.

 

How It Happened

• Hamilton trailed 57-44 with 6:06 remaining in the fourth quarter but went on a 16-2 run that was capped by an Emily Hall '24 free throw for a 60-59 edge with 3.6 seconds to go. Hall scored five points and Kendall Harris '27 had eight during the spurt.
• UCSC called timeout and inbounded the ball in front of its bench. The first attempt was deflected out-of-bounds with three seconds left. The next inbounds pass was thrown to the opposite low block where the Continentals forced a jump ball with 1.2 seconds remaining. The Banana Slugs kept the ball on the alternating possession and they lobbed the inbounds pass into Litchev in the paint where she was fouled as she went up for the shot. She calmly sank both free throws for the victory.
• Hamilton never trailed in the first quarter but its largest lead was just four points at 14-10. A layup by Taylor Lambo '26 put the Continentals in front 16-14 after the opening 10 minutes. Lambo scored Hamilton's first seven points and finished the quarter with 11.
• The teams combined to go 6 of 27 from the field in a second quarter that didn't feature much offense. Neither team led by more than four points during the second and UCSC went into the locker room with a 26-22 advantage. A jumper by Harris gave the Continentals a 22-20 edge with 1:30 to go. Hamilton didn't lead again until Hall's free throw in the closing seconds.
• The Banana Slugs were clinging to a one-point lead at 33-32 midway through the third quarter, but they went on an 11-2 run during the next two minutes. A jumper by Litchev gave UCSC its first double-digit lead at 44-34 with 3:02 left. The Banana Slugs took a 10-point cushion into the fourth quarter, 48-38. UCSC's 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter was the largest of the night.

 

Notes

• Harris scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter before fouling out with 14 seconds remaining. Harris recorded her fourth 20-point game this season.
• Lambo filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. She had six of the Continentals' 16 offensive boards. Lambo has four double-doubles in the last six games and five total this season. She leads the NESCAC with 9.7 rebounds per game and is fifth in scoring with 15.5 points per game.
• Hall added 12 points off the bench as she went 10-for-11 at the line.
• Ariel Anderson led the Banana Slugs with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. She was the only UCSC player that scored in double figures.
• Jenna Gorton had three of the Banana Slugs' eight blocked shots.
• UCSC went 20-for-22 (90.9 percent) and made its last 17 attempts at the free-throw line.
• Hamilton committed just 12 turnovers but shot 29.7 percent (19-64) from the floor.

 

Next Game

The Continentals take on Lewis & Clark College (1-7) in their second and final game at Santa Cruz's December Classic on Friday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. Eastern time and 1 p.m. local.