RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside celebrated Senior Night on Saturday at the SRC Arena with a 53-46 win on over UC Santa Barbara. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UCR shot 50% in the first quarter, holding a 15-8 lead after 10 minutes. Matehya Bryant and Makayla Jackson combined for 13 Highlander points in the first half.  
• UC Riverside held the Gauchos to just 8 of 23 shooting in the first half. 
• The Highlanders' tempo was a major factor in Saturday's win, as UCR held a 16-4 edge over UC Santa Barbara.  
• Nine of UCR's 15 first quarter points came off the bench.  
• Neither team saw a double-digit lead on Saturday, but Bryant made it a nine-point advantage for UC Riverside late in the fourth on a pair of free throws.  
• UCR's tempo came into place once more in the fourth quarter, where the Highlanders secured a 7-0 advantage in fast break points.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UC Riverside secured the third seed in next week's Big West Championship with the win after being picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll.  
• Bryant and Jordan Webster both logged double-digit scoring performances in their final home games.  
• RyAnne Walters was one steal shy of tying a career high on Saturday with five takeaways against the Gauchos in her final home appearance. 

UP NEXT 

• The Highlanders now look forward to next week's Big West Championship at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada.