Fresno, CA—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team (5-0) takes its perfect record on the road this week as the Highlanders travel to Fresno State on Thursday, December 4, for a 7 pm PT tip against the Bulldogs, before making their way to Bakersfield on Saturday for a 1 pm tip against the Roadrunners.
UCR remained one of the 28 undefeated teams in the nation last week thanks to Brittany Crain's Big West Conference Player of the Week performance at the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament (
story). The junior guard averaged 33.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in the Highlanders' wins over Stephen F. Austin (
box score/
recap) and the host Lobos (
box score/
recap) as they took the tournament title over the holiday weekend.
Crain led the nation in scoring heading into this week, and also ranks second in the Big West in rebounds per game, first in minutes per game and free throw percentage, third in steals and seventh in field goal percentage.
The last time the Highlanders began a season with more than five straight victories was in the 1986-87 campaign when they won seven straight to open the year.
Fresno State enters the week with a 3-2 record following an 80-60 loss at Bakersfield Sunday. The Bulldogs other loss of the season was at USC on November 23. They opened their 2014-15 schedule with a 67-56 win over Cal Poly.
The 'Dogs boast three double-figure scorers in Alex Sheedy (14.4), Raven Fox (11.2) and Bego Faz Davalos (10.2). They are holding opponents to 38.1 percent shooting from the field and 31.2 percent from three-point range.
The Highlanders are 1-10 all-time against Fresno State (
view results) with their most recent game ending in a 67-62 loss, December 21, 2011, at the SRC Arena (
box score/
recap). UC Riverside's lone win in the series came back on February 24, 1973 as the Highlanders topped the Bulldogs 38-23.
Bakersfield is 4-1 on the year pending the outcome of the Roadrunners game Wednesday vs. UC Irvine. The 'Runners also boast three double-digit scorers in Tyonna Outland (18.4), Dajy Vines (15.0) and Brooklyn Hinkens (14.6). Bakersfield is outscoring the opposition by 11.4 points this season thanks in part to a defense that is forcing 24.4 turnovers per game.
The Highlanders are 6-2 all-time against the 'Runners with each of those results coming over the past eight seasons (
view results). Last year, UC Riverside upended Bakersfield 85-66 at the SRC Arena (
box score/
recap/
video recap).
