SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- The Highlanders traveled up the California coast to take on Cal Poly. UC Riverside played two nights ago at Davis and struggled and this afternoon it looked like a different team. This was the first conference meeting of the year for these two teams, with the Highlanders taking the 64-56 victory at Mott Athletics Center. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Seneca Hackley got the Highlanders on the board first, and after a Cal Poly three point play, Shelley Duchemin hit a jumper to give UCR a one-point lead. Kaylani Polk forced a turnover that led to a Gemma Cutler basket and a 6-3 UCR lead. After the Mustangs pulled to within one, both teams went scoreless for the next two-plus minutes. Cal Poly made two free throws taking a 9-8 lead, but that did not last too long as UCR answered on a three by Zoe Tillery. Hackley buried a jumper with two seconds on the clock and UCR had a 13-9 lead after one quarter of play.
• The second quarter started with a Duchemin three pointer that pushed the lead to 16-9. Cal Poly would strike back with two quick buckets, cutting the Highlander lead to 16-14. After a couple of made free throws by Cal Poly, the Highlanders forced a Mustangs' turnover that led to a Duchemin fast break layup. Hackley would add a jumper and push the lead to 20-15. Both teams would go back and forth the final two minutes of the half, but UCR held a slim 26-24 lead.
• Coming out of the break, the Mustangs tied the game up, but Makayla Rose would answer with a jumper of her own and give UCR the lead again. UCR would go on a 7-0 run and push the lead to eight. The Mustangs scored five straight and cut the lead to three. The Highlanders scored the next five and pushed the lead to 41-33. Cal Poly scored the final four points of the quarter and cut the lead to 41-37.
• Rose started the fourth driving to the hoop and putting one in for UCR. She then followed up with a three and then hit a layup pushing the UCR lead to 48-37. Rose hit another jumper and was the offense for the Highlanders in the fourth. Hackley made a layup and pushed UCR's lead to 52-37. The Mustangs would go on a 7-0 run of their own, trying to get back into the game and cut the lead to six, 56-50. A couple of free throws by the Highlanders pushed the lead back to eight, until a jumper by Cal Poly cut it back to six. UCR would need to rely on free throws to help put the game away and secure the win. 

• "This was a great bounce-back win on the road. The contributions from Makayla, Shelley, and Seneca, all reaching double digits, were huge. We are really proud of our continuous growth."

NOTABLES

• Duchemin (16), Hackley (16) and Rose (11) all scored in double figures.
• Rose added five steals and six rebounds.
• Duchemin led the way on the glass with eight boards and Hackley added seven.

UP NEXT

• The Highlanders return home to the SRC on Thursday, February 6 at 6 p.m. as they take on UC San Diego. Thursday night's game will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Check out GoHighlanders.com for all the information regarding that game. Tickets for February 6th are free, but fans will need to register on highlandertickets.com