LONG BEACH, Calif. – UC Riverside made a strong push in the second half at the home of first-place Long Beach State, but fell short on Thursday night at Walter Pyramid, 56-46. 

UC Riverside went on a 5-0 run early in the ball game following a slow start at Walter Pyramid, as Daphne Gnago and Keilanei Cooper combined to score the Highlanders' first seven points. 

UCR's defense kept the Beach in check late in the first half, holding them scoreless for three minutes and change. 

The Highlanders came out of the break with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 30-24 halfway through the third quarter. The push continued after Jada Holland's three at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter cut UCR's deficit to four. Holland finished the night with 11 points for her third 10-point game in her last four outings and third overall in Big West play.

Daphne Gnago sank a pair of free throws to cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter, but Long Beach State accelerated ahead late in the fourth for the win. 

Four Highlanders grabbed at least four rebounds on Thursday night, led by eight from Matehya Bryant. Five of Bryant's boards came in the second quarter. 

UCR is back in action on Saturday, January 29 with a 6:00 p.m. tip at Cal State Fullerton. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available on fullertontitans.com.