RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball team will try for its first conference win on Thursday at the SRC Arena vs. Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

The teams are squaring off for the first time since the Highlanders beat Long Beach State, 79-66, in the first round of the Big West tournament last year.

The Highlanders (6-9, 0-1) took a hard-fought loss to UC Davis in their Big West season-opener on Saturday. In the 67-59 defeat, Jannon Otto led the way for the Highlanders, scoring 22 points. It marked the third straight game in which she had 20 or more points.

"She was a warrior and played hard the entire game," head coach John Margaritis said. "She really laid it on the line and came to play."

The first 300 fans will get a free pair of sunglasses.

SCOUTING THE BEACH
This will mark the first conference matchup for Long Beach State. Due to a cancelled game vs. New Mexico on Dec. 29, this will mark the team's first game played since Dec. 22 vs. Utah State. The team comes in with a two-game winning streak.

BLOCK PARTY
The Highlanders are second in the Big West in blocked shots with 74, with an average of 4.9 per game. Marina Ewodo has 33 of those and is averaging 2.2 blocks per game, which is second in the Big West. The team has out-blocked opponents 74-24.

TURNOVER MARGIN
The Highlanders have the third-best turnover margin (1.8) in the Big West, averaging 13.8 turnovers a game, while the opposition is averaging 15.6.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Highlanders are first in the Big West in scoring defense (62.5 ppg) and second in defensive field goal percentage, with a .378 average.

BIG WEST HARDWARE
Jannon Otto was named Big West Player of the Week for her play during the week of December 24th. She scored a career-high 23 points vs. New Mexico State, going 8-for-10 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line.