Box Score The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Highlanders returned to play with a non-conference bout against Utah after their original opponents canceled the weekend's pair of home games due to COVID-19 protocol.

UCR struggled to make a dent in Utah's defense, first knotting up the score at 5-5, 7-7 and 8-8 in the first five minutes, before Utah pulled away with a lead that would last the rest of the game. By the end of the first period, it was 24-9 in favor of the Utes.

The Highlanders were most effective in the second quarter, holding the Utes to 18 points, their lowest scoring period, and scoring 16, the Highlander's highest scoring period.

UC Riverside entered the locker room down 42-25, and were stifled by Utah defense in similar fashion in the back half of the game. The Utes held UCR to 11 and 12 points in the final two periods, ultimately pulling away with an 89-48 home team victory.

Keilanei Cooper led the team scoring 16 points, followed by Jada Holland with eleven. Holland complimented her double digit scoring with a team-high three assists. Daphne Gnago held down Highlander defense with a team-high nine rebounds.

Next, the Highlanders return to conference play with a home game on January 20 at the SRC Arena against CSUN at 6:00 PM.