RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball team took an important step before it begins the season, beating UC San Diego, 66-59, in a Saturday afternoon exhibition game.

The Highlanders were led by a trio of guards. Sophomore Keilanei Cooper, redshirt junior Jannon Otto and sophomore Tianna Eaton combined for 47 points.  

"I thought that those three carried us throughout the game," head coach John Margaritis said. "That right now is a strength of ours. They are athletic and can really shoot the ball."

Cooper corralled 12 rebounds, a team high, while Otto also had eight rebounds.

After going in at halftime with a 30-24 lead, the Highlanders turned up the intensity in the third quarter, outscoring the Tritons by seven. UCR went into the fourth quarter with a 51-38 lead and had a 16-point lead, its biggest of the game, with 6:37 left in the fourth.

"UC San Diego challenged us with their speed and their effort, and for the most part, we more than stepped up," said Margaritis.

The team officially begins its season on Tuesday against USC in Los Angeles.