NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The Highlanders traveled to the San Fernando Valley for a matinee at CSUN. This was the final meeting of the season for these two teams, with CSUN taking the first meeting in Riverside, 58-53.

Hannah Wickstrom, the reigning Big West Player of the Week, posted her eighth double-double of the year scoring 24 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in UCR's 70-61 win. Two more Highlanders scored in double figures with Seneca Hackley adding 14 points and Kaylani Polk chipping in 12. Along with her seven points tonight, Taylor Swanson set a new career high in steals with four.

In the first quarter the Highlanders held a seven point lead, but the Matadors chipped away at it and tied the game at 13. Maya Chocano broke the tie with a layup but CSUN tied it a few seconds later at 15. The Highlanders' defense held CSUN scoreless over the final 1:20 of the period. 

In the second UCR built its lead back up to seven, for the second time in the first half. But CSUN fought back and took the lead at the 3:35 mark in the second. Makayla Minshall's layup and Bria Shine's jumper put UCR up by one a few possessions later. Then the defense picked up and held CSUN scoreless over the final 2:31 of the half and UCR took a 34-28 into the locker room. 

UCR came out with energy in the second. Not only did UCR build a ten point lead in the first few minutes of the second half, they held CSUN's offense to only two points through the first two plus minutes. Polk buried a three mid-way through the period and UCR had its biggest lead to that point, 46-35. With just over two minutes left in the quarter, Maria Mejia hit a three and put the Highlanders up by 14, 52-38. The Matadors were able to get the lead down to nine, but a pair of Hackley free throws in the final seconds of the third put UCR up 55-43.

The first part of the fourth quarter the Highlanders maintained it's double digit lead. The Matadors went on a brief 7-0 to cut UCR's lead to five but baskets by Hackley and Wickstrom put the Highlanders up by nine and they did not look back. The Highlanders' defense took over and held CSUN to only four points over the final two minutes of the game.

It was UCR's tenth win of the year and their eighth conference win. Next up is Hawai'i at the SRC Arena on Thursday night at 6PM. It will be senior night so be sure to come out.  Read Full Article