SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team (8-20, 5-9) fell short at UC Santa Barbara (12-15, 9-6) on Saturday, falling 72-70 despite career-highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds by senior guard Michelle Curry.

KEY RUNS
The Highlanders led 15-14 late in the first quarter, but used a strong second quarter to lead by as many as 11 points on multiple occasions.

The Gauchos kept things close throughout, thanks in large part to the inside-outside combination of Drew Edelman (27 points, 11-14 FG) and Tal Sahar (21 points, 4-7 3FG). However, a pair of Curry free throws gave UC Riverside a commanding 66-59 advantage with just 1:23 remaining.

Santa Barbara would go on an 11-4 run over the next 75 seconds to tie the game at 70-70, setting up a wild final sequence.

With under five seconds to go, Curry's potential game-winning baseline jumper just missed, but a Gaucho turnover gave the ball back to the Highlanders with 1.4 seconds to go. UC Riverside would then turn the ball back over with no time coming off the clock.

On the ensuing inbound play, a Highlander foul put the home side on the free throw line with 0.5 seconds left, setting the Gauchos up for a pair of game-winning free throws.

GAME NOTES
After posting 30 points when she faced the Gauchos back on Feb. 8, Curry topped that previous career-best with 31 points (14-22 FG) on Saturday. The senior was also dominant on the boards, pulling down a personal-high 14 rebounds, six coming on the offensive glass. Curry also tallied four assists in 39 minutes.

Redshirt senior guard Lauren Holt finished with 21 points (10-12 FT) and 5 assists, surpassing the 20-point mark for the third time in four games. Holt has now reached double-figures in an astounding 21 consecutive outings.

Sophomore guard Jannon Otto tallied 9 points and 3 assists in 37 minutes, going an efficient 4-of-8 (.500) from the field.

The Highlanders will return to the road next Thursday, March 1 for their regular season road finale at Long Beach State.