Women's Basketball Dominant In, 67-53, Win Over Utah Valley

Thursday, November 21

Riverside, Calif.

7:30 P.M.

UC Riverside

2-4,0-0Big West

Utah Valley

0-4,0-0WAC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Utah Valley	11	15	12	15	53
UC Riverside	23	18	15	11	67

Photo by: Carlos Puma

Women's Basketball Dominant In, 67-53, Win Over Utah Valley

11/21/2019 9:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Presented by Altura Credit Union

RIVERSIDE— A hot-shooting first half and a strong defensive third quarter performance propelled the UC Riverside Women's Basketball team to a wire-to-wire, 67-53, home win over Utah Valley.

The Highlanders (2-4, 0-0) were led by Keilanei Cooper, who scored 22 points off the bench, and knocked down a career-high five three pointers. Jannon Otto posted her second-straight 20-point game of the season with 21 on 9-of-13 shooting, 3-of-5 from long distance, and Marina Ewodo scored 10 points to make it a trio of players in double figures for UCR, she also pulled down a game-high tying (Skyler Lewis) eight rebounds.

Utah Valley (0-4,0-0) got double figures from Eve Braslis (16pts) and Josie Williams in the loss.

One minute and three seconds, that's how long the game would be tied for before the Highlanders scored the game's first bucket, a three by Jannon Otto, which would be a sign of things to come, and end the only stretch of the game where UCR wasn't leading.

The blue and gold began the game on a,16-3, run in an opening period that saw them shoot 81.8 percent (9-11) from the field, connecting on three of their four attempts from three. They would lead, 23-11, after 10 minutes were played. UCR continued to shoot it well in the second period (8-17, 47%), which helped them establish a, 41-26, advantage at the break.

In the third period, UCR held Utah Valley to 2-14 shooting from the field as the Wolverines got eight of their 12 points in the quarter at the charity stripe. The Highlanders closed the third leading, 56-38, and in full control of the game.

The Wolverines were able to cut the deficit to 14 in the fourth, but got no closer as UCR went on to win, 67-53. The Highlanders posted season-highs of nine three pointers made and 10 steals in the victory.

Thursday night's win snaps a three-game skid in non-conference play for UCR.

"It's nice to get a win in front of our home fans. It was also nice to see our offense clicking like it did in the first half." said Head Coach Seyram Bell. "The girls have been working hard to get better every day and it's showing." she added.

Looking Forward
Sunday afternoon, the Highlanders host Weber State in a 2pm tip-off.