Highlanders 57 - Aggies 53
The UCR women's basketball team faced UC Davis on Saturday night looking to knock the Aggies out of first place and to take the top stop themselves. The last time the two teams played each other, the Aggies beat the Highlanders by four points in a close game, 54-50. On Saturday night, the Highlanders returned the favor, beating UC Davis, 57-53.
UCR came out strong in the first half, leading by as many as 14 points, 19-5, at the 11:39 mark. After a timeout by the Aggies, UC Davis went on a 12-2 run to cut the lead to just four points, 21-17. A three-pointer by junior Rhaya Neabors gave the Highlanders a seven-point lead. But, the Aggies responded right back as they outscored the Highlanders 13-0 in the final seven minutes of the first half to take a six-point lead into halftime, 30-24.
In the second half, UC Davis struck first with a layup to go up by eight points. The Highlanders did not let up as they went on an 10-2 run to tie the game at 34. From that point, both teams exchanged baskets and kept the game close until the final minutes of the game.
The score was tied at 48 with just over two minutes remaining. Junior Brittany Waddell hit a three to give the Highlanders a slight edge. UC Davis made a layup to cut the lead to one with 1:39 left in the game. After that shot, the Highlanders completely put the game away with a final 6-3 run in the last minute of the game. Free-throws by Waddell sealed the game and gave the Highlanders a 57-53 victory.
With this UCR victory, the Highlanders and the Aggies switched spots in the Big West Standings. UCR moved to first place with a conference record of 11-4 and UC Davis moved down to second place with a 10-4 record. Cal Poly also lost their second straight game that night, so the Mustangs slipped down to third place with a record of 10-5.
Junior Alyssa Morris led all scorers with 13 points and senior Amber Cox added 12 for the Highlanders. Rheya and Rhaya Neabors both scored eight for the team, and Waddell came off the bench with seven big points.
Saturday's win not only put the Highlanders in first place, but it was also coincidently head coach John Margaritis' 100th win as head coach for the UC Riverside women's basketball team.
UCR now has an overall record of 14-14 and will look to move a game above the .500 for the first time all season in their final game against Long Beach State on March 6 at the Student Recreation Center. After that, the Big West Tournament will begin on March 10.
Highlanders 50 - Tigers 41
The Highlanders returned to the Student Recreation Center to play the Pacific Tigers on Thursday night after having played their final road game of the season. The Tigers did not pose much of a challenge to the Highlanders as UCR easily won the game, 50-41
The Highlanders got off to a quick start with a 12-0 run in the first three minutes. The Tigers then scored six straight to try to keep the game close, but UCR answered right back with five straight points to regain control. The Highlanders completely cruised through the first half and led by 15 points at halftime, 28-13. UCR held the Tigers to 3-21 shooting from the floor in the first half.
In the second half, Pacific was able to battle back and cut the lead to as many as five points. After a timeout by the Highlanders, UCR was able to regain control of the game.
A jump shot by Amber Cox and free-throws by Alyssa Morris gave the Highlanders a nine-point lead with one minute remaining in the game, and UCR was able to put the game away. The Highlanders ended up winning by nine points, 50-41.
Defense was the story of the game for UCR. The Highlanders forced the Tigers to 18 turnovers as the team stole the ball 10 times, and blocked 11 shots. UCR held the Tigers to 26 percent shooting from the field.
The 41 points by the Tigers were the fewest total points UCR had allowed all season.
"I thought in the first half we did a good job," said Highlander head coach John Margaritis. "In the second half we played with no energy, the enthusiasm, or the effort necessary. The time ran out. If they [the Tigers] had more time, they could have come back."
The top performer for the Highlanders was Alyssa Morris with 16 points and five rebounds. Amber Cox added 13 point and grabbed six rebounds.
Both Cox and Morris combined for 29 of the Highlanders' 50 points of the game.
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