Riverside­, CA - The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team (1-0) opened the 2014-15 season Friday evening at the SRC Arena defeating Santa Clara, 80-69.
 
Three members of the Highlanders scored in double figures led by Brittany Crain's 29 points. Simone DeCoud added 19 while Michelle Curry had 11. Marie Bertholdt had 17 points to lead three SCU (0-1) players in double-digits.
 
UC Riverside led at the half, 40-28. Crain led the Highlanders with 14 points, scoring three 3-pointers in a three minute stretch to help the UCR increase their lead from two to seven with 4:27 remaining.
 
Jaelyn Wilson scored five out of the Highlanders last nine points to give UCR a 12-point lead at the break, 40-28.
 
UC Riverside maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half, but the Broncos used a 9-0 run to cut the margin to three, 59-56 with just over six minutes left in the game.
 
That was as close as the Broncos were going to get, though, as the Highlanders scored 16 out of their last 23 points from the free throw line. Crain scored her last six points from the charity strip during that stretch giving the Highlanders enough cushion to finish with an 11-point victory. 
 
The Highlanders now remain at home hosting San Jose State on Saturday, November 20 at 2 pm PT at the SRC Arena.