IRVINE, Calif. - UC Riverside dropped a 62-53 contest to UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UCR opened with the hot hand offensively, shooting 53.8% from the field in the first quarter.  
• Makayla Jackson hit a three in the final minute of the first quarter as both teams' hot shooting led to an 18-18 tie after a quarter. Matehya Bryant scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half.  
• UC Riverside carried the momentum into the second quarter, where the Highlanders ended the half on a 9-3 run to stare down a miniscule three-point deficit at halftime.  
• UCR stayed in UCI's shadow for much of the third quarter, speeding ahead 43-41 on a fastbreak layup from Jaden Sanderson at 2:52.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UCR went 9 of 11 from the free throw line. Jordan Webster was UC Riverside's key foul shooter in Saturday's matinee with a 7-for-8 clip from the stripe.  
• Esther Matarranz registered six points with seven rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals to stuff the stat sheet. 

UP NEXT 

• The Highlanders return to action on Thursday, February 15 with a 7:00 p.m. tipoff against Cal State Fullerton on ESPN+ at the SRC Arena.