RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside snapped a five-game skid and picked up its first Big West win in the process, downing CSUN 59-41 on Thursday night at the SRC Arena.
It was the Highlanders' first home game in five weeks, turning into the team's third win out of the last four meetings over the Matadors.
"It was a great team effort," acting head coach Brad Langston said. "We did a good job of battling the highs and the lows of the game. It was good to have everybody back and we're looking forward to getting back on the court and getting ready for Saturday."
Keilanei Cooper scored the Highlanders' first eight points and went into double figure scoring for the eighth time this season and fourth straight game early in the second quarter, accounting for 10 of UCR's first 15 points of the evening. Cooper finished her night with 18.
Olivia West knocked down a corner triple out of a called timeout to give the Highlanders brief separation just before halftime before CSUN countered with a jumper on the other end. West went for 15 points against the Matadors on Thursday, her first 10-point outing since December 19 and first of Big West play.
Cooper knocked down her second three of the night with second remaining in the half to give UCR the more comfortable 27-23 lead at halftime in an otherwise one-possession game, holding the Matadors scoreless for the final minute and a half of the opening 20 minutes.
The senior didn't miss a beat out of the break, draining a triple from the wing on her first touch of the second half. Daphne Gnago got the friendly bounce on UCR's ensuing possession to extend the Highlanders' run to 8-0. Gnago accounted for UCR's first four points of the half before Olivia West's fast break bucket helped open up an 11-point lead, 36-25.
UCR shot the lights out after halftime, ultimately opening the half on a 15-3 run. UC Riverside held CSUN to 1 of 7 from the floor through the first five minutes of the second half while shooting 50 percent in that span. The Highlanders also took care of the ball, committing just three turnovers at the end of the third quarter after five in the first quarter.
CSUN made a brief push at the start of the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run, but West pushed through the defense with an uncontested layup for the Highlanders' first points of the quarter with a little less than six minute remaining before UCR put a lid on its first Big West win of the season.
Jordan Webster grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in the win, one of seven Highlanders to record at least three. UCR grabbed 44 total rebounds, the team's fifth 40-rebound game of the season.
"We keep it going by preparing and getting ready for what Santa Barbara does well," Langston said. "We'll follow the scout and get our kids confident and prepared and ready to knock down shots when they're open and take care of the ball."
UC Riverside will stay in the Inland Empire to continue Big West action, hosting UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m. inside the SRC Arena. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on www.gohighlanders.com.
