RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside hosted Saint Mary's tonight at the SRC Arena for its first home game of the season. Last season, the Highlanders went to Moraga and won, 49-41. Tonight, the Gaels took it 51-41.

The first quarter ended tied at 11. Highlanders' guard Aaliyah Stanton scored seven of the team's 11 points.

Shelley Duchemin got things rolling in the second hitting a three to break the tie. The Gaels' Addi Wedin knotted the game at 14 on a three of her own. It was back and forth for the until the final minute of the first half when Saint Mary's took a four point lead on a three by Amy Kurkowski. This was the first time in the short season that the Highlanders trailed the half.

In the third quarter Saint Mary's built its lead up to as many as 12 points before the Highlanders found some offensive rhythm. The Gaels' defense held UCR to four points through nearly the entire quarter. The Highlanders tried to chip away at the deficit, but when the third period ended UCR trailed by nine.

In the final quarter Saint Mary's got its lead up to 12 points two times and the Highlanders could not find their offense. Maya Chocano hit a three late to cut the lead to nine, but that was as close as they would get.

With the loss UCR falls to 0-3 on the young season and will head to Idaho next week to take on Idaho and Boise State.