RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders traveled just a few miles across the city of Riverside to play in the latest installation of the Crosstown Showdown rivalry against California Baptist University (CBU). This year's contest between Riverside's two Division I programs would be the Lancers fourth game of the year and just the Highlanders first of the 2020-21 campaign. In addition, the Saturday, December 5, 2020 game would be the first game as well for new UCR Women's head basketball coach, Nicole Powell, who joined UCR in
March of this year.
The matchup between the two programs would prove to be a back and forth, evenly matched one, both in nearly all statistical categories as well as the battle taking place on the glass and in the paint between UCR's talented duo of Daphne Gnago and Bryanna Brady against the Lancers' Britney Thomas and Caitlyn Harper.
UCR guard, Keilanei Cooper, scored the Highlanders first five points of the game, en route to a game high 19 points on 7 of 20 shooting from the field (including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc) to go along with six rebounds. Cooper helped keep UCR close throughout the first and second quarters, finishing with 17 in the first half before CBU found an answer in the second half, working diligently in their attempt to neutralize the UCR senior and the damage her ability to score the ball was doing to the Lancers' chances to secure a victory.
The Lancers took a 43-36 lead into the half behind Sydney Palma's 11 points. However, both teams had trouble converting throughout the first several minutes of the third quarter, trading turnovers and missing shots. The Highlanders stout defensive play kept UCR close throughout a low scoring third quarter until the Lancers' Freshman Nicole Avila-Ambrosi was fouled and connected on two free throws to extend the CBU lead to nine, 45-36. Then, UCR's Gnago converted for the Highlanders in transition, cutting the Lancers' lead to 45-38. Joy Campbell converted on one of two free throws for UCR, bringing the Highlanders within six, 45-39. The Highlanders continued to chip away, and were able to eventually tie the game at 47 a piece on Jordan Webster's long-range three-pointer. But that would be the closest UCR would get as CBU's Britney Thomas' roared back with seven of her 11 points coming in quick fashion during a 9-1 Lancers' run to close out the third quarter, 56-48.
Trailing by eight heading into the fourth quarter, UCR continued to push through adversity in spite of CBU building a 10-point lead, 60-50 with just under 6:30 remaining in the contest.
Freshman Highlander, India Aikins, hit a jumper at just under the six-minute mark followed by a mid-range jumper from Cooper, bringing the Highlanders within six, 60-54. CBU's Caitlyn Harper then scored the next four for the Lancers, and UCR found themselves down 10 again, 64-54 with 3:30 to play.
In spite of a furious final push from UCR, the Highlanders were unable to close the gap in the fourth quarter and ultimately fell to CBU, 67 – 58 in the latest edition of the Crosstown Showdown between the two teams.
Coach Powell reflected on her first game at the helm of the Highlanders stating, "We are so grateful for the opportunity to play. We have had some scheduling setbacks, so it was nice for us to be able to put on our uniforms and compete."
Powell continued, "We are obviously a little disappointed with the outcome, but some of those jitters and little mistakes come from just playing our first game. It was a great learning experience for this young team. We've got a lot of work to do but now we have some game experience and some feedback. Keilanei is going to continue to lead us and I think the sky is the limit for this team. Now it's time to get ready for the next one."
The Highlanders fall to 0-1 to start to season following the loss to CBU while the Lancers move to 4-0 on the year. UCR takes the court next on Thursday, December 10 at home at the SRC Arena against Fresno Pacific.
