BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball team will play its final game of 2018 and its final non-conference contest on Monday, squaring off against CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m.

The Highlanders (5-8) are coming off a gritty win vs. New Mexico State. In a back and forth contest, in which their were four ties and 10 lead changes, the team showed poise and strength down the stretch to beat the Aggies 65-64. Jannon Otto tallied 23 points, while Malou De Kergret scored 18 points, both of which were season-highs.

The Highlanders are 9-3 all-time vs. Roadrunners. The last time the two teams faced each other was last year on Dec. 6, with UCR winning 68-65. The Highlanders currently have a three-game winning streak vs. CSU Bakersfield.

UCR begins Big West Conference play on Jan. 5 vs. UC Davis at the SRC Arena.

SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
CSU Bakersfield (4-8) took a 92-52 loss on Saturday at Oregon State. While the Roadrunners kept things close in the first half, they were outscored by 24 in the second half. Alexxus Gilbert led the team with a career-high 23 points.

BLOCK PARTY
The Highlanders lead the Big West in blocked shots with 71, averaging 5.5 per game. Marina Ewodo has 31 of those and is averaging 2.4 blocks per game, which is second in the Big West. The team has out-blocked opponents 71-22.

OFFENSIVE GLASS
Daphne Gnago has more offensive rebounds (44) so far this season than defensive rebounds (39).