SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – UC Riverside was in search of its third win in four games on Monday evening at Cal Poly, but a last-second bucket did the Highlanders in in a heartbreaking 49-47 loss at the Mott Athletics Center. 

UC Riverside matched the Mustangs toe for toe early on midway through the first quarter and continued the trend before breaking out with a 9-0 run and ultimately 13-4 to end the first quarter. Cal Poly squeaked its way back in with a string of buckets, but Jordan Webster pocketed a corner three to keep a four-point edge just before halftime. 

Matehya Bryant nearly reached a first-half double double, going for eight points and nine of UCR's 20 first-half rebounds before halftime. Defense then took precedence for both sides out of halftime with six combined points in the first four minutes of the third quarter, but the Highlanders had their way on the offensive glass with a 10-5 advantage. 

Bryant locked in double double number five on the year before the end of the third quarter, ending her evening with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Anna Blount joined Bryant in the double double party with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

Webster was clutch once more, pulling up for a mid-range jumper to give UCR a 45-43 lead down the stretch. The Highlanders finished strong with five makes from the field in their final seven, but a buzzer-beating layup was the final nail in the coffin of a valiant effort from UC Riverside. 

UCR returns home briefly on Thursday, January 19 for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff against Hawaii on ESPN+. Tickets for that and all Highlander women's basketball home games are available at highlanderstickets.universitytickets.com.