On March 8, 2025 — International Women’s Day — the University of California Riverside (UCR) women’s basketball team claimed victory over California State University of Fullerton (CSUF) with the final score being 61-51.
This was a momentous night for the UCR team as it was senior night, and UCR honored Esther Matarranz from Madrid and Gemma Cutler from North Vancouver. The women’s senior night started with a heartwarming video from Matarranz’s parents back in Spain. The touching video shared how proud they were of her and her dedication throughout her four years as a Highlander. Both Matarranz and Cutler have proven their love and dedication to the program and will be missed dearly.
Before the game against CSUF, UCR took on the California State University of Northridge (CSUN) Matadors during a thrilling away game at the Premier America Credit Arena. UCR rose to the occasion during overtime, winning 77-74. Makayla Rose scored a career-high 31 points to carry the Highlanders to victory.
After defeating CSUF, UCR clinched the seventh seed going into the playoffs for the Big West Conference. UCR will be taking on sixth seed California State University of Long Beach (CSULB) on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. The previous two times UCR has taken on CSULB they have walked out with losses. The UCR team will need to bring their A-game to beat CSULB and advance in the playoffs.
Matarranz expressed how it is going to be very unusual for her once she leaves UCR. She said, “[It is going to be] weird. It’s gonna be a change because I’ve been getting used to [UCR] for four years, but I’m excited for [the change].I have to take advantage of this place, this place has given me so much, and I’m ready for the next step.”
Reflecting on her favorite memory as a Highlander, Matarranz said “I have a lot [of favorites], for example, this year when we beat Irvine, it was the first time in my four years that we beat Irvine. That was a really good team to beat and it was really cool.”
Throughout her time on the UCR women’s basketball team Matarranz learned that “nothing is easy and you have to earn everything you get.” She describes her journey as one filled with “growth, because I feel like I’ve grown so much since my first year.”
Just like Matarranz, transfer Graduate Student Gemma Cutler is playing her final year at UCR. Compared to the rest of her college career, Cutler said that this year was “a great way to finish off [her] career, playing with a new group of girls who support [her] on and off the court. So it was a good transition into [my] final chapter in basketball.”
Cutler’s most memorable moment as a Highlander was “snapping Hawaii’s fourteen-game win-streak.” This was a remarkable accomplishment for the team and carries significance as the University of Hawaii currently holds the first seed in the Big West Conference.
Perseverance played a vital role in Cutler’s journey at UCR; she learned to overcome challenges and grow from them. Cutler explained, “the school challenged me academically and athletically,” so she tried her best “to balance both of those and be the best version of myself in class and on the court.”
