LAS CRUCES—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball team earned their first victory of the 2019-20 season, 60-58, at New Mexico State aided by double figures from Daphne Gnago, Marina Ewodo and Skyler Lewis. The victory was capped off by a late steal, and game-winning layup by Ann Jernigan.
Interim Head Coach Seyram Bell on her first career win, "I'm more happy for our players and how it will build their confidence going forward. This wasn't a pretty win, but we're glad to have it along with we lessons learned in it. I'm excited to see how we apply them in our next game."
The first half was played at close range with neither team establishing a lead of more than five points, however, UCR turnovers remained an issue as the blue and gold. Despite their 15 miscues, the Highlanders trailed, 26-25, going into the break.
The third period was in search of a direction until the middle of the frame, when Highlanders bigs Gnago and Lewis took over. They scored nine straight points (5 Gnago, 4 Lewis) in the paint while in the midst of a, 13-1, UCR run that flipped the score from a two-point deficit, 36-34, to a 10-point advantage, 47-37, going into the fourth. Gnago and Lewis each tallied nine points in the third.
In the final frame, the Highlanders held a, 51-43, lead until the 6:11 mark, when the Aggies went on a, 15-1, run to take a six-point lead, 58-52, with 2:32 left to play.
Senior forward Ewodo then established her presence with a series of plays that calmed and inspired the team, as she attacked basket to earn a pair of free-throws, which she made, collected her seventh rebound of the game on the defensive end, and scored on the ensuing possession to make 58-56 game--all in a 32-second span.
UC Riverside locked in defensively and forced a shot clock violation with 24 seconds to play. Coach Bell then the team's final timeout the game. Coming out the stoppage, the Highlanders went inside to Lewis, who hit a turnaround jumper in the paint to tie the game at 58, force the Aggies to call for time.
The UCR defense then came with their biggest play of the game, as they stole a pass near the baseline, sent an outlet pass to mid-court that hit junior transfer Ann Jernigan in stride, who then made a layup to put the Highlanders ahead, 60-58, all with a New Mexico State defender in close pursuit. UC Riverside thwarted the Aggies' final attempt with a pass deflection and steal as time expired.
Over the final two and a half minutes of the game, the Highlanders held the Aggies scoreless, didn't allow an offensive rebound, and scored the final eight points of the game without committing any turnovers. They also shot 15-16 from the free-throw line, and won the battles of the benches by outscoring New Mexico State, 15-6, led by Jalyn Clay's eight points (6-6 FT) to go with four rebounds.
Gnago led the way 15 points to go with four rebounds while Ewodo (14pts) and Lewis (12pts) joined her in double figures and pulled down seven rebounds apiece.
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders will take the short 30-minute ride across the Texas border into El Paso to face the UTEP Miners on Saturday, November 9th at 6pm PT.
