EL PASO, TX — The UC Riverside Women's Basketball team's late rally was not enough to overcome their 28 turnovers in a, 63-50, loss at UTEP Saturday night.

Sophomore Forward Daphne Gnago logged her first double-double of the season with 14 points (5-6 FG) and 11 rebounds to lead UCR. 

The Highlanders trailed 33-14 after two quarters of play that saw them shoot 4-15 from the field and commit 18 turnovers, which aided the Miners in the form of 13 more shot attempts (11-28) from the field. 

UCR came out of the break with a renewed focus and scored the first four points of the frame. They trimmed the deficit to 12 (38-26) midway through the period, but UTEP regained control with a 8-2 run to finish the third leading by 18, 46-28. 

Although the Highlanders still trailed, their play was much improved compared to the first half as they shot 50 percent (4-8) from the field and a perfect 6-6 at line, outscoring the Miners, 14-13, for the quarter.

In the fourth, the clubs traded scores over the first three and a half minutes, until the Highlanders went on, 10-2, run to make it a 10-point game, 52-42. In the run, UCR got a bucket each from five different players.

The Miners responded with a, 6-3, spurt to make a 13-point game, 58-45, which would be the final margin, 63-50.

The fourth quarter was UCR's best of the game, as they got scores from eight different players, shot 10-18 (55.6%) from the field, controlled the boards 13-9, and tallied five assists against just three turnovers. They also locked in defensively, forcing the Miners to shoot 4-17 (23.5%) in the period. 

LOOKING FORWARD 

The Highlanders are off few days before their home opener against USC on Thursday at 7pm inside the SRC Arena.