UCSB
Mustangs Host Rival UCSB Thursday, Visit Fullerton Saturday
1/20/2026 2:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly women’s basketball will renew the Blue-Green rivalry with UC Santa Barbra this week in its first of two games this week.
The Mustangs (3-14, 1-6 Big West) will host the Gauchos Thursday at 7 p.m. inside Mott Athletics Center. The game is a ‘Green Out’ with all fans encouraged to wear their green. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ as well as Spectrum Sportsnet. Cal Poly will then travel south to face Cal State Fullerton Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Mustangs will be looking to get back into the win column following losses in their last three. Most recently, Cal Poly fell on the road last Thursday to Hawai’i.
Cal Poly has two players who rank in the top 11 in the Big West in scoring. Sophomore guard Vanessa McManus ranks third at 19.2 points per game, which is 32nd in the nation. She has scored in double figures in all but two games this season, including over 20 six times and over 30 twice.
Meanwhile, freshman forward Charish Thompson is having an exceptional start to her college career. She is second on the team and 11th in the Big West in scoring at 14.1 points per game. That ranks 10th in the nation among all Division I freshmen. She’s also been very efficient in her shooting to the tune of 50.3 percent which ranks third in the Big West.
UCSB is 13-3 overall on the season and 5-2 in Big West play. They are coming off a 67-50 loss Saturday at Hawai’i. They rank as the both the third best scoring offense and defense in the Big West, are No. 1 in field goal percentage, and No. 1 three point shooting team in the Big West. They also have three players who average double figures in scoring. UCSB leads the Blue-Green rivalry all-time series 62-31. However, Cal Poly has won four of the last six meetings, including two of three last season.
Cal State Fullerton comes into the week 9-9 overall and 5-3 in Big West play. The Mustangs and Titans faced each other back in December to open Big West play with Cal State Fullerton winning 96-64. The Titans rank as the top scoring offense in the Big West at 72.3 points per game. Cal Poly leads the all-time series over Cal State Fullerton 38-29. The Mustangs have won four of the last six meetings over the Titans.
Following Saturday’s game, the Mustangs have two games at home next week. They host Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. followed by UC Riverside Saturday at 2 p.m.
