RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Highlanders opened the 2025-26 campaign at crosstown rival California Baptist and dropped a tough one, 56-53.

Three new faces to the Highlanders team got the start tonight with Taylor Swanson, Bria Shine and Aalyiah Stanton all making their UCR debuts. Swanson is a true freshman out of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and both Shine and Stanton transferred to UCR from UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton respectively.

The game got off to a quick start for the Highlanders as Seneca Hackley buried a three to start the scoring. UCR's defense held the Lancers scoreless for the first two minutes of the game until Chance Bucher hit a jumper to get CBU on the board.

Shelley Duchemin hit a free throw putting UCR up by two and then both teams' offenses struggled and went scoreless for the next two minutes. Kaylani Polk ended the scoring drought on a layup putting UCR up 6-2. Both teams traded baskets and the first ended with UCR up 13-10.

The second started with Duchemin hitting a jumper, but CBU came back with five quick points to knot the game up at 15. Polk buried a three to put UCR up three, but CBU fired back with four of their own to take their first lead of the game, 19-18.

Makayla Minshall hit a big three mid-way through the second to put UCR up by two. The Highlanders extended their lead to seven and eventually the Lancers answered and cut the deficit to four at half.

UCR started the third with a 29-25. Polk started the third making a three to put the Highlanders up 32-25. Duchemin followed up with three a couple of minutes later and UCR extended its lead to 35-27.

Then the Lancers found a spark offensively and went on a 9-0 run to take a 36-35 lead with just under five minutes in the third. After trading baskets the score was tied at 39 heading into the fourth.

Midway through the fourth the score was tied at 45. Then CBU went on a 7-0 run to take a 52-47 lead with three plus minutes in the quarter. Stanton and Polk made back-to-back layups and cut the lead to 52-49. Polk then tied it at 52 after making another three at the 1:23 mark. A jumper plus a couple of CBU free throws sealed it for the Lancers and handed UCR its first loss of the season.

Next up for UCR is a trip to Tucson to take on the Arizona Wildcats. That game is on Thursday, November 6 at 5:00PM on ESPN+.