As the most highly decorated player in the history of UC Santa Barbara women's basketball, Erin Buescher is coming off a spectacular sophomore season. After being named the Big West Player of the Year and Tournament MVP for the second time in as many years, she became the first All-American in school history when the Associated Press tabbed her an honorable mention selection. As one of the top returning players in the nation, she was selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club as a preseason candidate for the 2000 Naismith College Player of the Year. She has also been named a Preseason First Team All-American by numerous sources, including Women's Basketball Journal and Women's Basketball News Service.

Double Trouble: More often than not during the 1998-99 season, Buescher recorded a double-double, double digits in points and rebounds. Of the 30 games the Gauchos played last season, Buescher had a double-double in 16 of them. Those 16 double-doubles were not only easily the most in the conference last year, it set a UCSB record. Buescher recorded 12 double-doubles as a freshman, and enters 1999-2000 with 28 for her career.

Leader of the Pack: Buescher made it customary to be the team's top scorer during the 1998-99 season, leading the Gauchos in scoring 18 times during the year, including UCSB's last six games of the season. But scoring was not the category that she led the team in the most times last year. Buescher was the team's top rebounder 20 times during her second season.

Pouring It On: When Buescher shoots, more than half the time the ball goes in the bucket. She shot 52.4% from the floor as a sophomore and now has a career field goal percentage of 52.1%. And her shots aren't all gimmies, either. Buescher shot 91 three-pointers last year, canning 43 of them (47.3%). She more than doubled her three-point output from her freshman year when she made 21 three-pointers.

Scoring? Not a Problem: Buescher set some Gaucho single season records last year, all of the offensive variety. Her 597 points scored were the most ever by a Gaucho player in one season, the same as her 19.9 points per game average. She also set a single-season mark with a three-point field goal percentage of 47.3%.

The Charity Stripe: Buescher became much more familiar with the half-circle at the top of the lane her sophomore year. As a freshman Buescher made more field goals than as a sophomore, but how did she score 67 more points in her second year? At the free throw line, that's how. Buescher made 140 freebies last year in 195 trips (71.8%). As a frosh she made only 89 free throws.

Personal: Played for the 1998 USA Basketball Women's Jones Cup Team, the first UCSB player to ever play for the USA National Team...Born June 5, 1979...Majoring in Communications...Picked UCSB over Washington, Oregon State and Marquette...Enjoys water-skiing in her spare time...The daughter of Jim and Margie Buescher.