University of California, Riverside
Cal State Northridge
Nkele’s Career-High 32 Points Lifts Highlanders to 72-62 Win at CSUN
1/14/2009 1:31:01 PM | Women's Basketball
(Northridge, CA) – Senior Kemie Nkele (San Diego, CA) scored a career-high 32 points to lift the UC Riverside women’s basketball team to a 72-62 victory at Cal State Northridge in Big West Conference action on Wednesday evening at the Matadome in Northridge, CA. UCR improves to 8-9 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
After falling behind 4-0 early on, the Highlanders used a 10-0 run in the next three minutes of play to give them a 10-4 lead at the 12:26 mark off a Nkele three-pointer. UCR then pushed the lead out to 36-19 after three straight free throws from Nkele at the 3:00 minute mark, but a 6-0 Matador (3-13, 0-3) rally closed the gap as the Highlanders entered the break up 41-28.
In the second, Northridge cut the lead to single digits, 48-40, at the 14:23 mark before the Highlanders responded and pushed the lead back to double digits after a 9-0 run of their own. With 4:16 remaining UCR had an 18-point lead, but a 15-7 CSUN rally to close out the game closed the gap as the Highlanders held on for the 72-62 win.
Nkele scored a career-high 32 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, as well as grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Seyram Gbewonyo (Sylmar, CA) added 13 points while Ronéy Friend (Los Angeles, CA) had 11.
The Highlanders have a ten-day break before returning to action on Saturday, Jan. 24 as they take on the 49ers of Long Beach State University in a 5:00 pm match-up at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside. Live game coverage is available online at www.gohighlanders.com.
Game Notes
With this win, Coach Margaritis becomes the fastest head coach to reach 75 wins in UCR history, which is the third most wins in the history of UCR women’s basketball.
UCR has now won the last four consecutive contests between these two teams and five of the last six.
Seyram Gbewonyo moved up to 7th place all-time on the Highlanders career scoring list after her 13 points in tonight’s contest.
The Highlanders tied their season-high in points with 72.
This is Nkele's fourth double-double of the season and the 42nd of her career.
