DAVIS, Calif. – UC Riverside gained ground in the Big West on Tuesday evening with a gutsy 61-59 win at the University Credit Union Center. 

The win was the program's first in Davis since the 2015-16 season. 

"I'm happy for the team to win at Davis in such a close game," head coach Nicole Powell said. "We've been in a lot of tight games this season and it hasn't always gone our way, so playing in that atmosphere and coming out on top was important for our development. We're focused on being our best selves and being in the grind of conference, and we're focused on every week improving."

UC Riverside's start couldn't have been hotter on the offensive end of the floor, ending the first quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 19-10 lead. Jada Holland led all scorers with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting with three triples after 10 minutes, reaching her fifth 10-point game in her last six outings. Holland ended her evening with a career-high 24 points that included five makes from downtown. 

As a team, UCR shot 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter of what would turn out to be an opening half of runs. 

A much more defensive pace took hold of the second frame, but UCR still held the Aggies scoreless for a three-minute stretch while jumping out to a 24-13 lead before UC Davis climbed back into the game with a 10-0 run. 

Both defenses shone through towards halftime, as UCR hung onto a 24-22 lead with no points between the teams for two minutes before the Aggies pulled ahead on a three. 

Keilanei Cooper sank a jumper midway through the third quarter, then Matehya Bryant came up with her third steal of the evening on the Aggies' return trip down the floor before Holland buried a three to pull UCR to within three. 

Cooper scored nine of her 13 points in the third quarter with seven coming in a crucial first five minutes of the second half that saw UCR get back into the game. UCR led the Aggies 5-0 in points off turnovers in the third, and a free throw from Holland tied a season high of 19 points on the evening and tied the game at 47 heading into the final frame. 

Olivia West knocked down the squad's fourth field goal in its last five attempts at the 5:31 mark of the fourth quarter to give UCR its first lead since late in the first half, as the Highlanders went on a 7-0 run before the media timeout to pull ahead. 

Holland reached a career high with under a minute left, draining a three for her 24th point of the evening before the Highlanders called a timeout. 

The Highlanders shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half and held the Aggies to 2-of-15 shooting to end the game. 

UC Riverside is island bound and will travel to Hawaii for an 11:00 p.m. PT tip with the Rainbow Wahine on Saturday, February 5 before returning home to the SRC Arena in front of fans on Thursday, February 10 against UC Irvine.