Riverside—For the fourth time this season the Highlanders will host a Big West game that is televised on ESPN3. Saturday's match-up includes CSUN (5-17, 3-5), who bring in the reigning Big West Player of the Week in Channon Fluker, versus UCR (14-7, 7-0) and history making shooting guard, Brittany Crain.
Crain, who recently crossed the 2,000 point mark, had 23 points, nine rebounds in an, 80-73, win over visiting UC Davis. (
box score/
recap) She is also just two made three-pointers away from shattering the UCR all-time career mark of 212.
Senior Annelise Ito poured in 22 points and grabbed eight boards, nearly logging her fourth double double of the season.
The Highlanders, who were without the services of forward Rejane Verin for the final seven minutes of the game (fouled out), withstood a furious fourth quarter charge from the Aggies. UCR committed just one turnover in the period and shot 5-6 from the line, including 4-4 in the final 17 seconds to secure the win.
UCR has won eight straight games, and their, 7-0, start in conference play is the best in program history.
CSUN (5-17, 3-5) is coming off an overtime loss at Long Beach State, their second overtime loss in Big West play (Cal Poly 1/21).
Before falling in extra time to the Beach, the Matadors had won three in a row, which included a win over preseason favorite Hawai'i (63-60), UC Irvine (83-64), and Cal State Fullerton (79-52).
Fluker tallied game-highs of 19 points and 18 rebounds in Thursday's loss. The Matadors got 17 points and 9 rebounds from Jasmine Johnson. Outside shooters Serafina Maulupe (14 pts) and Emily Cole (12 pts) connected three and four times from long distance respectively.
In their last meeting, CSUN prevailed, 88-70, at the SRC Arena. (
box score/
recap) UCR leads the overall series 32-30. (
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