SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - UC Riverside made it back-to-back wins over Cal Poly and back-to-back wins overall on Thursday night at the Mott Athletics Center with a 64-53 win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCR started the night a hot 4 of 7 from the floor and held the Mustangs scoreless for the final 2:23 of the first quarter to hold a 15-11 lead after one. 
• UC Riverside's due diligence on both ends of the floor carried through to the end of the half, where UCR entered the intermission on a 9-0 run while forcing five turnovers across the final four minutes. The Highlanders scored 20 of their 34 first half points in the paint with 12 coming from Matehya Bryant. 
• Jordan Webster's three opened up an 18-point lead for UCR just minutes into the second half as the senior continued to close in on 1,000 career points. Webster finished her night with 21 points on 5-of-11 shooting. 
• Esther Matarranz put a stop to an uncharacteristic cold spell for the Highlander offense, ending an almost three-and-a-half minute lull with a layup at 4:26 of the third quarter. Zoe Tillery pushed the lead to 20 with a jumper at 4:01. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• UCR collected 15 steals for the fourth time this year and second straight game with 15 against the Mustangs. Five Highlanders accounted for multiple takeaways on the night, paced by four from Bryant.
• Two of UCR's top three opposing turnover totals have now come in its last two games after forcing 26 on Thursday. The Highlanders, already one of the nation's leaders in forced turnovers entering Thursday, forced at least 20 for the second straight game.
• Makayla Jackson has now scored in double figures in four of her last six games after an 11-point performance on the Central Coast, thanks in part to a 7-for-8 clip from the free throw line. The Highlanders shot over 80% from the free throw line for the fifth time this season.

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is back in action on Saturday, January 13 for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff against Hawai'i at the SRC Arena on ESPN+.