June 19, 2006

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Ana Oniandia will not return to the UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team for the 2006-07 season, head coach Mark French announced Monday.

"Due to an inability to comply with team academic standards, Ana will not return to the Gauchos next year," French stated. "We wish Ana well in her future endeavors, whether they be here at UCSB or elsewhere."

Onaindia, a 5'5" guard from Bakersfield, Calif., appeared in 26 games for Santa Barbara over the past two seasons, averaging 4.7 points per contest. She missed all but six games of the 2004-05 campaign because of strained lower abdominal muscle, and then sat out seven of the first 10 contests last season due to a combination of injury and administrative issues.

Onaindia scored a career-high 12 points twice - in her collegiate debut at Saint Mary's on Nov. 21, 2004 and at Cal Poly on Feb. 4, 2006 - burying a quartet of three-pointers in each contest. Ninety-four of the 108 shots Onaindia attempted as a Gaucho came from beyond the arc, where she connected at a 31.0% clip.

In 2006-07, UCSB will feature eight returning letterwinners - including a pair of all-conference performers - as well as four true freshmen, one Division I transfer and one player rejoining the program following a year-long absence. The Gauchos posted a 16-14 overall record and 10-4 Big West Conference mark in 2005-06 to earn a share of their unprecedented 11th consecutive league regular season title. Santa Barbara made its 11th straight postseason appearance, advancing to the preliminary round of the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.