RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside made it eight wins at home and five straight home victories over Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night with a 67-56 win inside the SRC Arena.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UCR closed the first quarter on a 15-3 run with Makayla Jackson tallying a game high eight points at the start of the second.  
• UC Riverside distributed the scoring more evenly in the second, but Jackson was still able to secure her ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season while UCR built a comfortable 10-point advantage with three and a half minutes remaining until halftime.  
• The Highanders forced 13 Fullerton turnovers prior to the break with eight points off those turnovers, also assisting on five of nine made field goals. Defensively, UCR held Fullerton 0 for 3 from three in the first half.  
• UCR opened the third quarter how they closed the first, dialed in from the floor with a 9-3 run out of halftime. The Highlanders were shooting at a 58.3% clip halfway through the third while holding Fullerton to just a 28.6% clip. UCR did not yield a made three until the third quarter.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UC Riverside improved to 8-3 at the SRC Arena and now has eight home wins for the first time since 2018-19. Thursday's victory also was UCR's fifth straight over Fullerton in head-to-head matchups at the SRC Arena.  
• Esther Matarranz was one rebound shy of a career high, registering eight boards in Thursday's win. Matarranz, who entered Thursday averaging 3.1 rebounds per contest, now has 15 in her last two games.  
• Jackson and Matehya Bryant combined to go 10 of 12 from the free throw line.  

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside returns to action on Saturday at the SRC Arena, hosting UC Davis at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.