LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Highlanders headed to Vegas to take on UNLV in an afternoon game. UCR was on a five game winning streak and looked to close out the 2024 calendar year on a high note. This was the seventh time these two teams matched up with UCR winning back in 2017, 95-88 in Tempe, Ariz. Lauren Holt led the way for the Highlanders dropping in 28 and Michelle Curry added 27 of her own with 12 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Rebels got off to a 4-2, then both teams went nearly two and half minutes without a point until UCR tied it on two free throws by Makayla Rose. UNLV then went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-4 lead late in the first. Then in the final 1:35 the Rebels went on an 8-2 run to extend their lead to, 19-9.
- The Highlanders offense struggled at the start of the second. UNLV got a quick four before Esther Matarranz hit free throws to cut the lead to 12. Both teams struggled to find some offense as neither team scored for a minute and half. UCR cut into the lead and eventually got it to ten at 23-13, but UNLV went on another run this time, 9-0 and built a 32-13 lead. The Highlanders went on a 6-0 run of their own as Shelley Duchemin, Hannah Wickstrom and Matarranz all scored. UNLV's defense tightened up and would eventually take a 42-26 halftime lead. Rose led the scoring for UCR with nine points on 3-4 from the floor.Â
- UNLV kept up the pressure up in the third quarter as they outscored the Highlanders 22-12. Seneca Hackely led the Highlanders in the third with five points and Duchemin chipped in with four. UNLV took a 64-38 lead into the fourth. The Highlanders outscored the Rebels in the fourth, 19-16 as Maya Chocano dropped in seven and Makayla Minshall added six. It was not enough to overcome the large deficit and UCR fell to UNLV 80-57.
NOTABLES
- The Highlanders saw their five game winning streak end in the desert.Â
- Rose led the team in scoring with 11 on 3-7 shooting and 1-2 from distance.
- Matarranz had a game high 10 rebounds for UCR.
UP NEXT
- The Highlanders return home for conference play as they host Long Beach State on Thursday, January 2 at 6PM.