Minneapolis, MN—Facing one of the highest scoring teams in the nation in Minnesota (11-2), the UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team (3-10) battled early, but couldn't stop a relentless Golden Gopher offense, falling 101-75.
KEY RUNS
The Highlanders opened the game strong offensively, taking an 18-9 lead out of the gates after knocking down 8 of their first 12 shots. UCR would take its largest lead of the game, 40-25, on a three-pointer by Clémence Lefebvre midway through the second quarter.
Trailing by 15, Minnesota answered back in a big way, going on a 32-5 run to take a 57-45 lead in the third quarter and never looking back.
GAME NOTES
Forward Skyler Lewis ended the day as the team's leading scorer with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting (.583). She also finished with season-highs in both blocks (4) and assists (4) to go along with 5 rebounds.
UC Riverside ended the first half with 16 assists on 19 field goals. The 16 assists tied a season-high for a half, set in the Highlanders' 95-88 win over UNLV on Dec. 2 (
box score/
recap).
Forward Marina Ewodo continued her strong play of late, tying a career-high with 12 points on 5-of-9 (.556) from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 mark from three-point range. The sophomore also added 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
UCR's 75 points were good for its second-highest scoring total of the season. The Highlanders also set new season-highs in both three-pointers (8) and three-point percentage (.500).
Guard Michelle Curry finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Now with 1,025 career points, she moves past Natasha Hadley (1,016) for No. 17 all-time at UCR.
With a 2-of-5 (.400) line from three-point range, guard Lauren Holt extended her three-point streak to 10 straight games, setting a new personal-best. Holt finished with 10 points and 3 assists.
A season-high four Highlanders have now scored in double-figures in four consecutive games.
Although the Highlanders had it going from outside, they had their least effective game from the free throw line of the season, going 1-of-5 (.200) from the charity stripe. The Golden Gophers finished the day 19-of-26 (.731) from the line.
Earning her first start of the month, Malou Thiebaut De Kergret finished with 5 points and set new season-highs with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
UCR will be back in action on Dec. 30 as it hosts UTEP in its final game before the start of Big West play.
