ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Highlanders took the court in the opening night of the Great Alaska Shootout hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Seawolves, challenging their hosts to the second game of the day. 

In a game that was back and forth the first two quarters, the Seawolves jumped out to a sizable 19-6 lead in the first quarter, forcing UCR to play catch up in the second period.

Highlanders were able to tie it up at 26-26 in the second quarter, as they pushed through their highest scoring period of the game, scoring 20 while holding the Seawolves to just seven. 

Coming out of halftime knotted 26-26, the Seawolves took off in the third quarter, surging ahead of the Highlanders, 48-35. 

It was a deficit the Highlanders were unable to make up for in a 16-16 fourth quarter. UAA clinched a victory with a final score of 64-51. 

Mateyah Bryant led the Highlanders both offensively and defensively, with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

The Highlanders will face Pepperdine in the consolation game tomorrow at 5:15 PM.