Feb. 21, 2013
Aggies 70 – Highlanders 56
The UC Riverside women’s basketball team continued their late season slide as the Highlanders lost 70-56 to UC Davis. In a vital game for playoff positioning, Sydnee Fipps’ 27 point explosion put the Aggies (6-8) one full game in front of Riverside (4-9) in the Big West standings.
Fipps, a 5-10 forward from Mariposa, posted her highest point total of the season as she sliced and diced the Highlanders defense at will. Her 10 points midway through the second half sparked a 13-2 run that led Davis to the victory. Highlander Brittany Crain notched her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 boards. Tre’Shonti Nottingham chipped in 13 points while Natasha Hadley accounted for 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Highlanders utilized a balanced offense early as six different players scored in the first half. Down 17-12, the UCR guards put the ball on the floor and penetrated the lane to ignite a 7-0 run that was capped off by a Crain free throw. The run tied the game at 21-21. Despite only scoring two points for the remainder of the period, Riverside only trailed by four, 23-27, at intermission while shooting a healthy 42 percent from the field.
The opening of the second half saw the Highlanders temporarily capture the lead as Nottingham drained a two pointer to give UCR a one point advantage, 40-39. Fipps responded by scoring 10 points, including two layups and a three, in the midst of a 13-2 Aggie run as the home team built a 54-42 lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Two free throws from Crain brought UCR within seven at 52-45 but UC Davis was able to extend the lead by as many as 16 points and secure the win, 70-56.
Feb. 23, 2013
Tigers 74 – Highlanders 66
Squaring off against the top team in the conference, freshman Brittany Crain played the best game of her young collegiate career. But she couldn’t will the Highlanders pass Pacific as Riverside fell, 74-66.
The guards of UCR had a stellar performance as Crain scored a career high 25 points and 12 rebounds, recording her second straight double-double. Tre’Shonti Nottingham poured in 24 points and racked up seven steals. Erica McKenzie led the Pacific with 15 points.
The Tigers (11-4), who were celebrating their senior night, got things going first as they jumped out to a 10-point lead, 21-11, at the 11 minute mark. Crain then channeled her idol Maya Moore, who also wears #23, reeling off 11 straight points to get the Highlanders to within five, 27-22. The two teams played evenly the rest of the way as UCR went into intermission down six points, 37-31.
Pacific maintained its lead over the Highlanders for the first seven minutes of the second half before UCR went on a 12-2 run. They were able to take a 52-51 lead with 10:07 left. After trading buckets, the Tigers rediscovered their rhythm as a McKenzie 3-pointer gave the home team a six-point cushion, 63-57. UCR came within four points on two occasions late in the period but Pacific closed out the game scoring seven of the final 10 points en route to a 74-66 triumph.
Pacific made program history as it improved to 21-6 overall and 11-4 in conference, which is their most wins in a season ever. The Highlanders, who dropped to 11-14 and 4-10 in league, were missing their center Natasha Hadley.
The forecast doesn’t look too bright for UCR as they return to the SRC Arena to face Cal Poly on Feb. 28. The Highlanders have not won a game at home since December of last year.
