Box Score Riverside–Michelle Curry scored a career-high 26 points, and Réjane Vérin added 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team to a 73-69 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

Curry matched her previous career-high of 24 points in the Highlanders' loss to CSUN last Saturday.

Thursday night at the SRC Arena, she erupted for 13 second quarter points, which fueled UCR's 26-14 outscoring of the Gauchos in the period, which erased the 10-point hole they found themselves in at the end of the first, 24-14.

in that opening period the Highlanders shot 6-11, 54.5 percent, but their chances were limited as they committed eight turnovers.

UC Riverside carried a two-point lead into the locker room, 40-38.

In the third, Vérin scored seven points, but the Gauchos got 11 in the frame from Drew Edelman and cut the Highlander margin to one, 57-56 entering the fourth.

Curry hit a jumper for the first score of the quarter, and also hit at the 2:43 mark that pushed UCR's lead to a game-high 10 points and, set a new career-high with her 25th point.

Santa Barbara would cut the deficit to three, 72-69, with 12 twelve seconds remaining, however Curry made her eighth free-throw of the night to seal the 73-69 victory. The series-splitting win also gave the Highlanders sole possession of third place in the Big West at 8-4.

Coach Margaritis is now just two wins away from reach the 200-win milestone.

UC Riverside will travel to Cal State Fullerton Saturday at 4 pm inside Titan Gym.