DAVIS, Calif. - UC Riverside hung tough with UC Davis on Thursday night at the University Credit Union Center, but was unable to pull out the win in a 73-64 setback. 

Matehya Bryant returned to double-digit scoring for the first time since January 21, going for a career-high 21 points in Davis on an efficient 9 of 12 shooting. Bryant, who scored 13 points in the first half, also collected four rebounds, an assist and a steal and was a key aspect of UCR's 32 points in the paint. 

UCR held the Aggies scoreless over the final 2:24 of the first half and went into the break on an 8-0 run the other way. Both teams could not miss out of halftime with UC Riverside starting 5 of 8 from the floor to jump out to a 25-22 lead. 

UC Riverside got out to a 15-14 lead after a quarter and a three-point advantage at halftime after Mele Finau's three with 28 seconds left in the half. UCR stretched the lead to 10 three minutes into the second half with Bryant and Jordan Webster accounting for all the Highlanders' scoring in the second half's first two and a half minutes. 

Webster scored 11 of her 14 points after the break with all four makes from the free throw line coming in the second half. Webster also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go along with two assists and three steals. RyAnne Walters also put in the hustle for the Highlanders with six boards and three steals. 

UC Riverside took great care of the ball in Thursday's loss, coughing up under 10 turnovers for just the second time this season and first since January 7 at CSUN. UC Riverside has now allowed just eight steals in both contests combined with the Aggies this season. 

UC Riverside will return home for the annual Blue Out game on Saturday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m., hosting UC Irvine on ESPN+.