Jalyn Clay
Carlos Puma
60
UCSB UCSB 4-16 (1-6)
73
Winner UC Riverside UCR 10-11 (4-3)
UCSB UCSB
4-16 (1-6)
60
Final
73
UC Riverside UCR
10-11 (4-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UCSB UCSB 3 17 20 20 60
UC Riverside UCR 10 21 16 26 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball Beats UCSB for Third Straight Win

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Things are starting to click for the UC Riverside Women's Basketball team. The Highlanders picked up their third straight victory, all in conference, with a 73-60 win on Saturday vs. UC Santa Barbara.

"I just think we are learning to compete a little bit better," head coach John Margaritis said. "We knew Santa Barbara was going to play hard for 40 minutes and challenge us. Everyone competed and we need to be able to do that consistently. We have really started to."

While UCR (10-11) has had multiple two-game winning streaks this season, this marks the team's first three-game winning streak. It couldn't come at a better time, with the streak helping the team improve to 4-3 in Big West play.

"We are in a different place mentally," Margaritis said. "We are tougher and understand a little bit more about what we have to do."

The team held UCSB to just three points in the first quarter, as the Gauchos went just 1-for-16. Relying heavily on its ability to make shots from behind the arc, UCSB went just 1-for-8 in the opening quarter and 10-for-33 overall.

After the Gauchos knocked down a three-pointer with 7:08 left in the first quarter, UCR went on a 17-0 run that ended when UCSB hit a jumper three minutes into the second quarter. Led by Jannon Otto and Malou De Kergret, who both had eight points in the second quarter, the Highlanders went into halftime with a 31-20 lead.

Otto has been on an extraordinary streak as of late. She's scored 20 or more points in seven of the last nine games. Her 26 points in Saturday's game marked her second-highest point total of the season. De Kergret also tallied 20 points, while Daphne Gnago had 16 points and nine rebounds.

"Jannon is very productive, so we are looking to go to her," Margaritis said. "She is meeting the challenge. She is the most versatile player we have. She can drive to the hoop, post up, shoot from the outside and bring speed to the game."

After the first quarter, the team shot 50 percent or better from the field the final three quarters, including 58.3 percent (7-for-12) in the third quarter.

While UCSB cut UCR's lead down to five points with just a few minutes left in the third quarter, that is the closest it would get. De Kergret had 10 points in the fourth quarter, while Gnago and Otto each had eight points.

The Highlanders were dominant inside, scoring 40 points in the paint, compared to 22 points by UCSB. The team also took advantage of the Gauchos' sloppiness, scoring 18 points off of 17 turnovers.

UCR's next game will be on Feb. 7 vs. Cal State Fullerton at the SRC Arena.