Last month, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women’s basketball team finished an eventful 2024-2025 season, going 12-8 in conference play and earning the seventh seed in the Big West Championship. They matched up against the sixth seed, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).
Despite getting swept in the season series against CSULB, the Highlanders held star guard Savannah Tucker to just seven points en route to a 54-40 victory. However, their season ended after a second round loss to UC Davis, in the Big West quarterfinals.
The 2024-2025 season was Langston’s first season leading the Highlanders as head coach, after working as interim head coach in 2023-2024. He has worked endlessly to give the team his all and mentions that the team has grown so much in the past year. The mindset he pushes for the team is “progress over perfection” to make the Highlanders more process-oriented.
This progress has shown itself over the past two years. A 20-6 Big West home record has highlighted that this team is not going to back down.
The biggest challenge that Langston faced this season was having eight new players on the team. Losing veteran leadership can be hard to overcome. But team bonding, on and off the court, played an essential role in overcoming these challenges.
Throughout the season, the Highlanders would occasionally have light and fun practices with the intention of getting to know each other better to improve team chemistry. Langston added, “Even though we come from different backgrounds, different schools, we can forge together.”
From a basketball standpoint, the team has gelled on the court. Fundamentals like making the right reads and understanding their teammates’s locations elevated the performance of the Highlanders.
Langston expressed that “so many players stood out this season,” but there were only a few key players that played a big role such as Makayla Rose. A complete two-way player, Rose made her impact on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
The junior guard was awarded the 2024-2025 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year award and averaged 9.3 points per game in 32 appearances. He also acknowledges Makayla Rose from a leadership standpoint, as she has stepped up this past season. In past seasons, she held on to her traditional role as a player.
Another player that stood out this season was Shelley Duchemin. Duchemin was a Second Team All-Big West selection and was also, “an amazing contributor on the offensive end, leading [her team offensively] by making big shots and runs.”
Hannah Wickstrom came in strong as a freshman and was a “potent offensive weapon,” according to Langston. She has also grown in her defensive presence this past season. Wickstrom was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team selection for her efforts.
In regards to leadership, Coach Langston mentioned that Seneca Hackley stepped up as a leader on the team. Originally a transfer from Northern Colorado, her voice and experience made the program an enjoyable experience.
Esther Matarranz, a senior from Madrid, Spain, has dedicated herself to the program and has not gone unnoticed, as she has spent her last four years devoted to the team and is deeply familiar with the program.
Looking back, moments that stood out this past season include beating 2024 Big West Champions UC Irvine at home and snapping Hawaii’s 14-game win streak, reflecting the team’s ability to succeed against elite competition.
During the off-season, the Highlanders have prioritized “having a pro-mentality,” as “the smallest details matter.” In addition, Coach Langston stressed the importance of being a great teammate. He went on to share how this is not only applicable to basketball, but it is also a matter of showing up when teamwork is expected.
With the momentum carried from this season, Langston plans to build on this success heading into the next year by conveying one simple message: “If you want a bigger house, you have to give a bigger deposit.” The Highlanders strive to give more going into the next season with aspirations of bringing the Big West Championship back to Riverside for the first time since 2010.
