SANTA BARBARA, Calif.  - UC Riverside kept the road trip going on Saturday afternoon in Santa Barbara, falling 63-45 at the UCSB Events Center. 

UCR was slow-going offensively from the opening tip, but was able to trim the deficit to 10 thanks to a three from Jordan Webster. The Highlanders found their groove in the second quarter, going into the locker room with just a 13-point halftime deficit after shooting 37.5 percent. Webster and Anna Blount combined for 13 of UCR's 15 second quarter points and 28 of UCR's 45 on the night.

UC Riverside's hustle defense turned it up in the second half, forcing five Santa Barbara turnovers in a span of just under five minutes despite not being able to capitalize on the other end of the floor. The Highlanders forced seven Gauchos turnovers in the third quarter while producing five of their seven points off the bench. 

Matehya Bryant grabbed just one offensive rebound on the night, but it was enough to move her into the fourth most in a season since 2008-09. 

UC Riverside hung tough with the Gauchos in the second half and never backed down with three different Highlanders recording at least six points in the second half. 

UCR will return to the SRC Arena to face CSUN on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.