IRVINE, Calif. - UC Riverside shot 42.3% in the second half, but fell 56-53 at UC Irvine on Thursday night at the Bren Events Center.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UC Riverside kept a close eye on the Anteaters in the first quarter with threes from Kaylani Polk and Zoe Tillery that put the Highlanders within a bucket.  
• Seneca Hackley led UCR at the half with six points.  
• Hackley found a cutting Esther Matarranz under the hoop on UCR's first possession of the second half for a quick strike out of the intermission.  
• UCR finished the third quarter going 2 for 3 from the field. The Highlanders cut the deficit to 10 entering the fourth with a corner three from Hackley off the inbound.  
• The Northern Colorado transfer cut the game to five with her second triple of the night, giving UCR an 8-0 run in the midst of a late push. Polk pushed the Highlanders closer with a steal and score to make it 44-41.  
• Polk knocked down a pair of free throws inside of three minutes remaining in the fourth to match her season high of 11 points.  

NOTABLES 

• Hackley poured in a season-high 18 points against on Thursday. The transfer scored eight of her points from the free throw line.  
• UCR went on a 10-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to a one-possession game.  
• Maya Chocano added a career-high 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting.  

UP NEXT 

• UCR returns to action on Saturday, January 25 for a 4:00 p.m. matchup with Cal State Bakersfield at the SRC Arena on ESPN+. Tickets are on sale now at www.gohighlanders.com/tickets.