RIVERSIDE— After an entire week and three games on the road in the Southwest, the UC Riverside Women's Basketball team returns to SoCal for its home opener against USC on Thursday, November 14th at 7pm PT in the SRC Arena.
The Highlanders will continue to battle the Pac-12 this week as they'll head to Berkeley to face Cal on Sunday, November 17th at 5pm.
UCR picked up its first win of the 2019-20 season last week, 60-58, over defending WAC champion New Mexico State thanks to a late steal, and a layup by Ann Jernigan with 1.4 to play. The Highlanders dropped contests versus New Mexico and UTEP on the trip as well.
Through the first week of the season, the blue and gold have been led by the scoring of Marina Ewodo at 14.3 points a game and Daphne Gnago at an even 13 per night.
USC comes into Thursday's contest with a record of 2-0, after victories over Virginia and the Big West's CSUN last week. They boast a trio of players averaging double figures, led by Endyia Rogers at 14.0 points per game, while Stephanie Watts and Alison Pill each average 13.0 a game. The Trojans are leading the nation in defensive rebounds per game with 42.
Cal (0-2) enters the Sunday afternoon affair having dropped both of its road games on the east coast, a season opening defeat at Harvard, followed by a competitive loss (72-61) to perennial powerhouse #4 Connecticut. The Bears are led by Sara Anastasieska and Evelien Lutje Schipholt, who average 16.0 and 13.0 points a game respectively.
GAME NOTES
PRE-SEASON ACCOLADES… WE'RE HONORED
Seniors Jannon Otto and Marina Ewodo were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team by the coaches.
Last season Otto was named to the Big West First-Team, while Ewodo was named to the Second-Team and All-Defensive Team.
As a team, the Highlanders were picked to finish third by both the coaches and the media.
SHOOTING THEIR (FREE) SHOTS
Through three games this season, the Highlanders are shooting 80% (36-45) from the free-throw line, which is tied for 36th nationally. Jalyn Clay (6-6), Marina Ewodo (4-4) and Bryanna Brady (2-2) are all perfect from the charity stripe so far this season.
CHAIRWOMEN OF THE BOARDS
The Highlanders lead the Big West in rebounding among teams that have played more than one game with 42 rebounds per contest leading to a 6.3 rebounding advantage per game.
They also are the only team in the conference to have four players, which have played in every game this season, averaging over five rebounds per game: Daphne Gnago 7.7 — Skyler Lewis 7.7 — Marina Ewodo 5.7 — Ann Jernigan 5.3
I DON'T ALWAYS SHOOT THREES, BUT WHEN I DO…
With just 12 attempts from long distance per game, Highlanders are the most infrequent hoisters of the three-ball in the Big West, however, Marina Ewodo (45.5%, 5-11) and Lauryn Pointer (33.3%, 3-9) are two of the most efficient shooters in the league, ranking 8th and 10th respectively.
THE OTHER FFF — FRENCH FIELD-GOAL % FEDERATION
Senior Forward Marina Ewodo (4th) and Sophomore Forward Daphne Gnago (7th) both rank inside the top-10 of the conference in field goal percentage. The France natives are shooting 58.6 and 54.8 percent from the field respectively.
IN A ROUND (#)-ABOUT WAY…
UC Riverside has scored 70, 60, and 50 points in their three games this season en route to averaging 60 points a game, which places them sixth in the Big West.
