SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara outlasted Utah Valley University in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday afternoon, 59-51.
 
The Wolverines (0-1) found themselves in an early hole before closing to within a point in the final quarter but could not get over the hump.
 
Danae Miller finished with 24 points for the Gauchos (1-0) and was 5-for-5 from three. Miller hit pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help stave off the Utah Valley comeback. Eve Braslis led UVU with 16 points while Alexis Cortez added 13.
 
"I was proud of the way we fought. We played a lot better defense in the second half," said Dan Nielson, who was coaching his first game as Utah Valley's new head coach. "Offensively we got into a flow in the third quarter and were able to cut it to one, but ultimately we need to learn to execute better down the stretch. We'll get back to practice tomorrow and correct some things and get ready for SUU on Saturday."
 
The Gauchos jumped ahead quickly, racing out to an 8-0 lead and extending it to 17-5 behind a 6-of-8 start from the floor. UCSB led 21-12 after the first quarter.
 
The Wolverines trailed 24-14 when Jordan Holland hit a baseline jumper and Braslis knocked down a three to get UVU within five, 24-19, midway through the second quarter. The score was 26-21 when UCSB closed the half on an 11-2 spurt to go into the break with a 37-23 lead.
 
Utah Valley scored the first seven points out of the half, getting five straight from Braslis before a Maria Carvalho steal led to a fast break layup from Cortez. The lead stretched back to double figures following a stretch in which Miller hit a pair from beyond the arc.
 
UCSB led by nine with less than a minute remaining in the third before Cortez scored six straight including a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer and got Utah Valley within three, 45-42, at the end of the quarter. The Wolverines outscored the Gauchos 19-8 in the third.
 
Josie Williams scored the first bucket of the fourth to make it a 45-44 contest, but Miller helped extend it back to nine as the UC Santa Barbara was able to earn the season-opening win.
 
In addition to Miller's 24, Ila Lane faded 15 for UCSB. Utah Valley outrebounded UCSB 46-38, with Williams grabbing nine boards to go along with five points.
 
The Wolverines were 22-for-64 (34.4 percent) from the field and, after allowing the Gauchos to hit 54 percent in the opening quarter, were able to limit UCSB to 35.2 percent (19-for-54) overall.
 
Up next, Utah Valley will host Southern Utah in the home opener on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lockhart Arena. SUU opens its season on Thursday at home against Cal State Fullerton.