SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside dropped Saturday's 64-56 contest at UC Santa Barbara to wrap up 2023. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Three of UC Riverside's first four field goals came off Gaucho turnovers, as UCR laid the groundwork for a 14-5 advantage in points off turnovers at halftime.    
• Esther Matarranz capped a 6-0 run for UC Riverside to force a Gaucho timeout with an early 11-3 lead. UCR shot 53.3 percent in the first quarter, holding a 20-12 lead after 10 minutes.
• The Highlanders carried that momentum into the second, where UCR started on a 10-4 scoring run. Jaden Sanderson gave UC Riverside the 24-22 lead with a pullup jumper after Santa Barbara had tied it with a three.
• Zoe Tillery kept the Highlanders chopping just two and a half minutes into the second half with a three on a fast break to make it a single possession game. 
• UCR cut the game to single digits midway through the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and ended Saturday evening with a 6-0 scoring run. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Jordan Webster's double figure scoring streak reached 22 games on Saturday with her layup near the end of the first half.  
• Makayla Jackson put up her second double figure scoring performance in her last three games and third this season with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. 
• Matehya Bryant grabbed her third double double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 
• The Highlanders were 14 of 16 from the free throw line on Saturday, an 87.5% clip that stands as a new season high. ⁣

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is back in action on Thursday, January 4 with a 6:00 p.m. tip at UC Davis on ESPN+.