MOSCOW, Idaho – UC Riverside hit the road again for a pair of games in Idaho. First up was the University of Idaho to take on a 3-1 Vandals team. Looking for their first win of the year, the Highlanders struggled and dropped their fourth straight, 89-75.

The Vandals came out and put up 32 first quarter points. Debora Reis Dos Santos and Hope Hassmann scored nine each for Idaho. The Highlanders were led by Makayla Minshall, who scored five. UCR held a brief 8-4 lead then Idaho outscored the Highlanders 28-14 in the last 6:30 to take a 32-19 lead.

Idaho started the second quarter on a 15-0 run to extend the lead to 47-19. Minshall then scored five straight. Aaliyah Stanton added a layup and the Highlanders looked to get back on track with a modest 7-0 run of their own. However, the Vandals ended the half on a 5-0 run and took a 52-26 halftime lead.

Hannah Wickstrom made her season debut for UCR tonight and tried to swing the momentum in favor of the Highlanders. She led the way for UCR scoring nine in the third. In doing so she became the second Highlander in double figures along with Minshall. UCR's 16 points in the third was its best third quarter of the season, but yet trailed 74-42. 

The fourth quarter the Highlanders' offense scored 33 points, their best quarter of the season. The defense was strong only allowing 15 Vandal points. Freshman, Taylor Swanson came alive on the offensive side of things scoring a team high 11 points in the final quarter, and ended with a new season and career high of 15 points.

Also, making her UC Riverside debut tonight was freshman Maria Mejia. She ended up with three points all from the line.  Mejia also had a career high in steals with five.
The Highlanders had four players in double figures and Swanson's 15 led the way.

UCR looks for its first win of the season on Sunday afternoon at Boise State. Tip-off is 1PM.