Fort Myers, FL––In the first matchup in the history of the programs, the UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team fell, 60-45, to Florida Gulf Coast in the finale of the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Classic. The Highlanders were done in by a cold-shooting fourth period in which they scored just seven points, and shot 1-8 from the field.
Simone DeCoud made the first bucket of the game. Taylor Gradinjan answered with a bucket to even the score, would knock down threes in as many trips down the floor for the Eagles in scoring their first 11 points of the game.
UCR was 3-3 from the field with four turnovers mid-way through the first period, and trailed 11-9. The teams trade buckets on the way finishing the opening frame just one point apart, 17-16 in favor of the home side.
The Highlanders played six players in the period, while Eagles ran 10, with only 2 getting 8 mins.
The second period was scoreless until six the minute mark, when Lauren Holt hit a baseline jumper, and followed that up with a three on next possession, staking UCR to a 21-17 lead.
FGCU shot 0-8 shooting from the field, six of their misses were from long distance in their eight minutes of the quarter. Their scored four points all came from the charity stripe, until Haley Laughter connected from long distance with three seconds to play in the half.
The Highlanders held the lead at the intermission, 26-24 led by Holt 11 (3-4 3ptrs) and Réjane Vérin's 8 points.
UCR and Florida Gulf Coast played tight contested third quarter which saw neither team create more than a four-point advantage. FGCU entered the fourth with a one point lead, 39-38, after outscoring the Highlanders 15-12 in the third period.
The Eagles hit a pair of threes and converted a steal at the other end after a UCR turnover in an 8-0 spurt that forced Coach Margaritas to call for time just two and a half minutes into the period.
The Highlanders finally scratched just after the 6:00 mark, when Clemence Lefebvre sank three free-throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt to make it an six-point game 47-41.
The Eagles responded with a 5-0 run which put the game out reach for good as UCR emptied the bench subbing in five players to finish out the game, which ended 60-45. UCR shot 1-8 from the field, and 5-11 from the free-throw in the fourth. Adaora Obi had the lone bucket for the Highlanders.
Holt finished with 14 to pace UC Riverside. Vérin also finished in double figures with 10 points to go with seven rebounds, and was named to Hilton Garden Inn Classic All-Tournament Team for scoring 29 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the two games played.
The Highlanders ended the six-game tour with a 3-3 record, and will host Penn Monday, January 2 at 5 pm in the final tune-up before beginning Big West play next Saturday at home.
