Career night by Zoe Shaw leads Gauchos past UC Davis

Sophomore guard scores career-high 29 points in victory over Aggies

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Behind a career-best performance by sophomore guard Zoe Shaw, the UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team defeated the visiting UC Davis Aggies 69-61 on Thursday night. Shaw scored a career-high 29 points, including 21 from three-pointers, to fuel the Gauchos' second win over Davis this season.

Why it matters

This win over a top-3 conference opponent is a significant boost for the Gauchos, who are looking to improve their standing in the Big West standings. Shaw's breakout game could also be a turning point in her development as a key player for UCSB.

The details

The Aggies opened the game with a three-pointer, but Shaw quickly responded with the first of her seven three-pointers on the night. The Gauchos built a slight lead in the first quarter, but Davis rallied to finish the period ahead 14-12. In the second quarter, the Gauchos went on an 8-0 run and Shaw scored 8 points, helping UCSB take a 31-23 lead at halftime. The Gauchos extended their advantage to nearly 20 points in the third quarter, but the Aggies fought back to get within 7 in the fourth. However, Shaw scored 12 more points in the final period to seal the 69-61 victory for UCSB.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • The Gauchos will next play UC Irvine on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The players

Zoe Shaw

A sophomore guard for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's basketball team who scored a career-high 29 points in the win over UC Davis.

Renee Jimenez

The head coach of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We've known what she could be. I just told her to be more aggressive, and this is a huge game for her. Hopefully this is a really big shift of confidence for her, but I was really, really proud of her tonight and she played 39 minutes, so it was really impressive.”

— Renee Jimenez, Head Coach (KEYT)

What’s next

The Gauchos will look to build on this momentum when they travel to face UC Irvine on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The takeaway

Zoe Shaw's career night led the Gauchos to a crucial conference win over a top-3 opponent, showcasing her potential as a rising star and providing a boost to UCSB's postseason aspirations in the Big West.