SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - UC Riverside snapped a four-game skid to Cal Poly on Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletics Center, using an electric second quarter and a clutch free throw performance to secure the 59-53 win.
The Highlanders are now winners of their last three and have held an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter in each of those games.
UC Riverside and Cal Poly opened Saturday's matinee in an offensive track meet, shooting at least 50 percent from the floor each through the first five minutes until Cal Poly went on a run to create separation as the first quarter wound down.
UCR opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, spurred by a pair of threes from Jordan Webster while holding Cal Poly to 0 of its first six from the field. Mele Finau accounted for the other triple on Jada Holland's fourth assist of the contest, and Anna Blount sank two free throws later on to extend the run to 11-0 and give UCR its first lead since 3-2.
The Highlanders held a team under 10 points in a quarter for the fourth straight game, outscoring Cal Poly 18-4 in the second quarter to take a 30-26 advantage into halftime. UCR held the Mustangs to 14 percent from the field in the second frame while going 6 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 7 from three.
Four of UCR's six made field goals came with assists, and three of those assists came from Holland.
A far more competitive third quarter saw the Mustangs creep back into the game, a 5-for-7 free throw clip from the Highlanders in the third quarter had them keeping the pressure on with a 40-all game at the end of three quarters.
The Highlanders matched Cal Poly's third quarter intensity down the stretch while taking care of the little details, going 9 of 11 from the free throw line. UCR also enjoyed a 6-0 run in 22 seconds with under a minute left that created just enough separation to snap a four-game skid to the Mustangs.
UC Riverside continues its road trip an hour and a half down the Central Coast on Thursday, February 24 with a 7:00 p.m. tip at UC Santa Barbara. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at ucsbgauchos.com.
