LONG BEACH, Calif. - UC Riverside battled back from 17 points down, but dropped a hard-fought 54-52 matchup with Long Beach State on Saturday at the Walter Pyramid.   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCR took a quarter to find its legs offensively, but opened the second quarter on a 12-3 run that saw a 21-7 deficit dissolve into 21-18. 
• UC Riverside went into halftime on a 14-5 run after holding the Beach scoreless for the final 2:47 of the half. The Highlanders shot 41.2% in the second quarter and led Long Beach State 10-4 in points in the paint at halftime. 
• Matehya Bryant gave UCR its first lead since 3-2 with a third-chance put back effort at 7:35 of the third before Makayla Jackson sank a corner three to build on the lead. 
• Esther Matarranz earned a free throw with a contested layup as UCR continued to flip the script with its inside game. UCR outscored the Beach 34-18 across the second and third quarters with 11 of their 13 made field goals coming from inside the three-point arc.
• UCR waited five minutes for a field goal in the fourth quarter, but went on a timely 6-0 run to cut the game to a field goal after Jordan Webster connected on a driving layup. 
• The Highlanders used a 4-0 run in the final two minutes to tie the contest at 51 but were unable to push the game across the line. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Bryant put up her second consecutive double double on Saturday with 17 points and 12 rebounds. 
• Webster has now scored in double figures in 28 of her last 30 games after pouring in a game-high 19 points. The senior was also one rebound shy of her second double double on the year.
• UC Riverside out-rebounded the Beach 36-31 and outscored them in the paint, 28-16. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside continues Big West play on Thursday, February 3 to host CSUN at the SRC Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.