OGDEN, Utah—Just 12 seconds into Thursday's game, Keilanei Cooper drained a three-pointer in the UC Riverside Women's Basketball game vs. Weber State.
It was a sign of things to come for the Highlanders (4-7), who tallied their best offensive performance of the season in a 71-39 win over the Wildcats. It not only marked the largest amount of points the Highlanders have scored this season, but it was the team's first road win of the season.
Marina Ewodo and Cooper had the hot hands in the first quarter. Both scored nine points, with Cooper going 3-for-4 from the three-point line. She finished the game 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
The Highlanders held the Wildcats to just 2-for-15 shooting in the first quarter and had three blocks and three steals to go into the second quarter with a 26-6 lead. It marked the team's second-highest scoring quarter of the season.
While the Highlanders haven't found much success from beyond the arc so far this season, coming in shooting 24.3 percent, it was a different story on Thursday. UCR shot 66.6 percent (10-for-15) from the three point line.
While the team's hot streak cooled off in the second quarter, it still increased its lead in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 38-16 lead. Much of that was due to a strong defensive effort. The Highlanders held the Wildcats to just five field goals in the first half.
"The team put pressure on itself during the week to be successful and we met the challenge and were able to compete," said head coach John Margaritis.
While Ewodo, who has become a blocking machine, tallied two blocks, it was guard Tianna Eaton who was a huge contributor to the defensive success. She had three blocks and got three steals, along with 10 rebounds.
"I felt like I was really involved," Eaton said. "During every possession I felt like I was doing something. I felt really busy."
After starting the third quarter on a 7-0 run, the team scored just seven points the rest of the quarter, but was able to hold Weber State to just 10 points. In the fourth, the squad once again found its offensive rhythm and shot 72.7 percent (8-for-11) from the field.
A well rounded offensive attack on Thursday, the Highlanders had four different scorers in double digits. Eaton led the team with 18 points and Daphne Gnago also had a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). Ewodo had 16 points and Cooper tallied 14 points.
"I feel like we are all starting to figure out what our strengths are," Eaton said. "I feel like we are getting a feel for where everyone can score."
The team will face Utah Valley at 10 a.m. PT on Saturday.
