At the end of the game on Thursday, March 2, the last day of George Eskin’s 30 years as public-address announcer for UCSB women’s basketball, he signed off with these words: “Final score: UC Davis, 80; UCSB, 59. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for attending tonight’s game. Drive safely on your way home. Follow the Gauchos to the Big West Conference tournament in Henderson, Nevada … and, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for the memories.”
Eskin accrued a treasure trove of memories through three decades of glorious triumphs and heartbreaking defeats, while endearing himself to fans, players, and coaches alike.
His favorite moment occurred when Lisa Willett, a Santa Barbara High graduate, stood at the line to sink the free throws that clinched UCSB’s 56-52 victory over Houston in the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament. It sent the Gauchos into the Sweet 16.
