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UCR Signs Seyram Gbewonyo to NLI

(April 28, 2005) - The UC Riverside women’s basketball team has signed Seyram Gbewonyo (SAY-rum bee-WAN-yo) to a National Letter of Intent, Head Coach John Margaritis announced Thursday. Gbewonyo joins six other incoming freshmen as the Highlanders welcome nine new players for the 2005-06 season.

“We are very excited to have had the opportunity to recruit and to sign Seyram,” Margaritis said. “She is a wonderful young lady who we expect to excel both academically and athletically in her career at UCR.”

A 5-10 guard/forward from Sylmar High School, Gbewonyo averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, and five steals last season and was named to the CIF/LA City Section All-City First Team. She was also named the Valley Mission League Most Valuable Player while earning spots on the All-Area teams of both the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News.

Gbewonyo is a four-time all-league player and was team MVP her junior and senior seasons. She led Sylmar to a 78-28 record and four straight league titles. For her career, she averaged 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 steals, and 3.0 assists per game.

Gbewonyo is the sixth incoming freshman from Southern California that Margaritis and his staff have signed for next season. She joins Chanel Foster (Tustin, CA) and Jennifer Rogers (Fountain Valley, CA) from Mater Dei HS, Tainoisouti Lott (Moreno Valley, CA) and Amber Cox (Perris, CA) of Rancho Verde HS, and Roney Friend (Los Angeles, CA) from Bishop Montgomery HS. Also joining the team next season will be transfer students Courtney Good (Soquel, CA/Mission College) and Vanessa Campillo (Tucson, AZ/Pima Community College). A third transfer, Tiffanie Ward (Vancouver, WA/Portland State) will make her UCR debut next year after arriving on campus last fall.

The nine players will be asked to step in for the Highlanders next season, as UCR loses six seniors from its 2004-05 squad that went 16-13. UCR returns just two players from that team while getting back senior Jennifer Valdez, who missed last year with a medical redshirt.

Midnight Madness 2005 to Kick Off Men's and Women's Basketball Seasons.

(October 12, 2005) - College basketball season is upon us, and the traditional kick-off to the season will take place on Friday, October 14, 2005 as UC Riverside hosts its annual Midnight Madness event at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside.

The doors of the SRC will open at 11 PM and students will have the opportunity to shoot free throws to win a Midnight Madness T-Shirt as well as sign up for other opportunities during the evening, including the FBI Student Booster Group, and the opportunity to participate in a three-point shooting contest, the $10,000 shootout and the half-court shot for tuition.

The evening will also feature a tug-o-war between greek organizations and the debut of UCR Idol, which will feature the singing styles of several UCR students.

At Midnight the men's and women's teams will be introduced to the public for the first time.

"This is a great opportunity for our fans to come out and meet the members of our men's and women's basketball teams," event organizer Kurtis Matzkind said. "We hope everyone will come out and have a great time."

There is no charge for admission to the event.

UCR Victorious in Exhibition Opener vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills

(November 5, 2005) - UC Riverside beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 71-57 in an exhibition game Saturday afternoon in front of 175 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside. The Highlanders debuted their revamped roster as nine different players scored.

CSUDH shot a scorching 56% (14-for-25) from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three-point range to hold a 37-35 lead at halftime. Guard Tameka Blue paced the attack, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor and scoring 16 first-half points.

After scoring the first basket of the game, UCR trailed until there was 1:51 left in the half, when senior guard Jennifer Valdez hit a three-pointer to put the Highlanders up 31-29. CSUDH ended the half on an 8-4 run to head into the locker room with the two-point advantage.

UCR's defense was the story in the second half. The Highlanders held the Toros to just 16.7% shooting (5-of-30) in the second 20 minutes while controlling the boards 31-18. UCR shot 40.7%(11-for-27) in the second half and 41.8% (23-for-55) overall.

The Highlanders were led by freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo's game-high 19 points. Gbewonyo shot 5-for-9 from the floor and was 8-for-12 from the free throw line while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing four assists.

Freshman forward Ronéy Friend also reached double-figures for the Highlanders with 10 points. Friend also pulled down seven rebounds, including five offensive.

The game featured the collegiate debut of UCR's 11 newcomers. After starting on the bench, the Highlanders had five freshman on the floor at the same time for the first time at the 14 minute mark of the first half. The freshmen also were key to the attack in the second half.

UCR controlled the boards 52-29 while grabbing 20 offensive rebounds. Sophomore center Kemie Nkele had a game-high 18 rebounds (eight offensive) to go with eight points, eight blocks, and four assists. Freshman forward Amber Cox contributed seven rebounds.

The Toros were led by Blue's 17 points but only one of those came in the second half. Alana Bailey chipped in 15 points and five rebounds.

UCR Win First Season Opener in Division I Era

(November 18, 2005) - UC Riverside won its season opener for the first time since the 2000-01 season, beating the University of San Diego 63-56 in front of 273 fans Friday night at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders gained their first-ever win over the Toreros to improve to 1-0 while USD drops its season opener to fall to 0-1.

After dropping four straight season openers on the road, the Highlanders took command in the first half, rolling off a run of 7-0 between 16:38 and 13:02 to turn a 6-6 game into a 13-6 advantage, a lead they would never relinquish. After USD climbed back to 25-21 with 6:26 left in the first half, UCR ended the period on a 10-2 spurt, holding the Toreros without a basket for the rest of the half to take a 35-23 lead at intermission. The Highlanders hit half their shots from the floor in the first half, going 13-for-26 and 9-for-10 from the free throw line while holding the Toreros to 8-for-25 (32.0%) from the floor.

UCR increased its lead at the beginning of the second half, attaining its largest advantage, 16 points, at 44-28 with 15:35 remaining. San Diego chipped away at the lead, going on a 12-3 run to pull back to within seven at 47-40 with 10:35 left. A jumper by freshman guard Chanel Foster and a three-pointer by senior guard Jennifer Valdez pushed the lead back into double digits and the Toreros would get no closer until the final 11 seconds.

UCR sophomore center Kemie Nkele picked up where she left off last year, notching her 17th career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 9-for-12 from the floor. She also had a career-high four steals. Freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds as nine of the ten Highlanders who saw action scored.

Four Toreros reached double figures offensively, with Tiara Harris and Kelly Winther leading the way with 11 points each. Sabine Loewe and Michelle Augustavo added ten points apiece while Ashley Voisinet had a game-high 11 rebounds.

UCR ended the game shooting 42.6% (23-for-54) overall and 82.4% (14-for-17) from the free throw line. The Highlanders also hit three three-pointers, extending their school-record streak to 49 straight games with a triple. USD shot 35.6% overall (21-for-59). Riverside held a slight rebounding advantage at 38-34 and blocked eight shots compared to just one for the Toreros.

Kemie Nkele Earns Season's First Player of the Week Award

(November 21, 2005) - UC Riverside women’s basketball player Kemie Nkele has been named the Big West Conference’s Player of the Week for the opening week of the season, November 15-21, it was announced Monday. It is Nkele’s second Player of the Week award in her career and she becomes the first two-time winner from UCR since Amy Houchens won twice in 2001-02.

Nkele, a 6-1 center from Mira Mesa HS in San Diego, started the 2005-06 season the way she finished her freshman campaign, notching a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in UCR’s season-opening victory over the University of San Diego last Friday. She also set a career-high with four steals and blocked two shots. Nkele, who led the Big West Conference in double-doubles, rebounding, blocked shots, and shooting percentage last season, registered her 17th career double-double while shooting 9-for-12 from the floor as the Highlanders won their season opener for the first time at the Division I level, ending a four-game winning streak.

Nkele was the last Highlander to win Player of the Week honors, receiving that distinction in the final week of the 2004-05 campaign. Houchens (twice) and Casandra Reeves (once) are the only other Highlanders to have been voted Big West Player of the Week.

UCR is 1-0 for the first time since 2000-01. The Highlanders play a pair of games this week, traveling to Pepperdine University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting San Diego State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Pepperdine Hands UCR First Defeat, 51-44

(November 22, 2005) - UC Riverside suffered its first loss of the season, falling 51-44 at Pepperdine University in front of 357 fans Tuesday night at the Firestone Fieldhouse. The Highlanders drop to 1-1 while the Waves win their home opener to improve to 1-1.

Neither team shot well in the first half as UCR led the entire way for a 17-16 advantage. Pepperdine did not make its first basket until almost halfway through the first half at 10:40 and was only 4-of-20 (16.0%) overall. Fouls by the Highlanders kept the Waves in the contest as both sophomore center Kemie Nkele and freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo picked up three personals in the first half. UCR shot 7-for-28 (25.0%) in the first half but maintained its lead thanks to poor free throw shooting by Pepperdine as the Waves made just eight of their 16 attempts.

Pepperdine opened the second half by pulling back to tie the game for the first time at 21-all after a basket by Daphanie Kennedy. Kennedy hit a three-pointer on the next possession to give the Waves their first lead of 24-21 at 17:10.

The teams traded baskets and were tied at 28 until Nkele picked up her fourth foul at 12:48 on a Teiosha George jumper. The basket was good to give the Waves the lead at 30-28.

Nkele picked up her fifth foul on a loose ball with 6:04 left and the Highlanders down two, 38-36. From that moment on, the Waves went on a 10-2 run to take their largest lead at 48-38. The Highlanders, playing with five freshmen on the floor, battled back but could not get within seven.

The Highlanders finished the game shooting 31.0% (18-for-58) from the floor and 7-for-15 (46.7%) from the free throw line. The Waves shot 48.1% (13-for-27) in the second half to finish 17-for-52 (32.7%) overall. They were just 14-of-31 (45.2%) from the line.

Nkele had her second double-double of the season and 18th of her career with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She also added four blocks. Gbewonyo led the Highlanders with 12 points. Freshman forward Amber Cox added seven points and four rebounds while freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott had a game-high 12 boards to go along with five points.

Kennedy paced the Waves with 11 points, all in the second half. George also had all 10 of her points in the second half while Kelsey Ball and Taylor Smith both came off the bench for eight points each.

Pepperdine improved to 10-1 all-time against UC Riverside, including victories in both meetings at the Division I level.

UCR Hangs On To Defeat San Diego St. 71-66

(November 26, 2005) - Four players scored in double figures and UC Riverside held on late to defeat visiting San Diego State University 71-66 in front of 233 fans in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders finish November at 2-1, posting a winning record in that month for the first time since 1995-96 while sending the Aztecs to 0-3.

Freshman forward Ronéy Friend had a game- and career-high 20 points to pace the UCR attack but almost handed away a nine-point lead with 2:54 remaining. With UCR holding a comfortable 68-59 advantage, Friend committed two turnovers in the final 2:12, as the Aztecs went on a 7-0 run to make it 68-66 UCR with 1:19 left.

SDSU had a chance to tie when Tamika Lipford stole the ball with 45 seconds left. After an Aztec timeout, Veronica Shaw got a good look from 14 feet but the ball rimmed out and went out-of-bounds. UCR freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo was fouled on the ensuing inbound but could only make one of two foul shots. Friend then stole the Aztec inbound pass and was fouled, hitting both her free throws to secure the win.

UCR’s balanced attack picked up the slack for sophomore center Kemie Nkele, who played just 17 minutes and fouled out with 15:48 left in the game. UCR led 42-40 when Nkele went to the bench but went on a 7-1 run to lead 49-41 by spreading the court and lobbing the ball into Friend and freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott. Lott had 12 of her 17 points in the second-half to help UCR build as much as a 13-point lead, at 65-52 with 5:43 left. The Aztecs chipped away down the stretch, taking advantage of Nkele’s absence by feeding the ball inside to Jana Heinrich and Desiree Johnson and crashing the offensive boards. Despite seeing their lead reduced to two, the young Highlanders survived to improve to 2-0 at home, equaling their home non-conference win total from last season.

UCR shared the wealth, shooting 52.4% (11-of-21) from the floor in the second half and 50.0% (24-for-48) overall. They were 21-of-30 (70.0%) from the line, compared to 17-for-28 (60.7%) by the Aztecs. SDSU finished the game shooting 37.1% (23-for-62) overall.

Friend had 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and 8-for-10 from the line. She also grabbed six rebounds (four offensive) and had three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Lott hit 6-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the line for a career-high 17 points while adding nine rebounds. Gbewonyo had 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while Nkele had also had 11 points to go along with three assists.

Heinrich had 17 points and eight rebounds (four offensive) to lead the Aztecs. Johnson added 16 points and nine boards while Michelle Strawberry had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Highlanders Sign Two for 2006-07

(November 29, 2005) - The UC Riverside women’s basketball team has signed two players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, Head Coach John Margaritis announced Tuesday. Jessie Schmuckal and Brittany Waddell will join the Highlanders for the 2006-07 season.

Schmuckal, a 6-1 forward from Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, was a First Team All-Mesa League selection in 2004 and 2005. She captained the Titans to perfect 10-0 league records and back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004, advancing as far as the CIF quarterfinals. She was also named to the all-league second team in 2005.

“Jessie adds a tall inside-outside threat for our team,” Margaritis said. “She will be able to spread the defense and give us another dimension offensively.”

A 5-9 guard from Hesperia High School in Hesperia, Waddell won Mojave River League Most Valuable Player honors in both her sophomore and junior seasons. Waddell led the Scorpions to a 26-1 record in 2005, winning their second consecutive league championship. She is also a two-time All-CIF and All-San Bernardino County selection, who averaged 19.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in 2004-05.

“Brittany is a tall guard who has the ability to penetrate and shoot from three-point range,” Margaritis said. “She is athletic and very aggressive.”

The two signees are a far cry from last season, when Margaritis brought in eight players to replace UCR’s six seniors from 2004-05. The two incoming signees will replace current senior guards Kirsten Muir and Jennifer Valdez.

“Both of these players will make us better. Our two seniors are perimeter shooters and we are replacing them with two perimeter shooters who are taller and more athletic,” Margaritis added. “We are looking forward to having them here.”

With a 2-1 record in 2005-06, the Highlanders are off to their best start since 1995-96.

Big Second Half Spurs UCR Over St. Mary's

(December 1, 2005) - Four players scored in double figures for the second straight game as UC Riverside exploded for 40 second half points in a 71-61 non-conference victory over visiting St. Mary's College Thursday night at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders gain their first win over the Gaels since 1984 to improve to 3-1 while dropping SMC to 2-3 on the year.

The Highlanders overcame deficits of 10 points in the first half and eight points in the second to improve to 3-0 at home this year. With the score tied at 31 at the half, UCR picked up its intensity in the second period as freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo hit a baseline jumper and a three-pointer to give UCR its first lead of the game at 36-31 with 18:57 left. St. Mary’s answered with a 13-0 run through five points from Brianna Winn and four from Eghosa Obaiza to reclaim the lead, 44-36. UCR inched closer and eventually tied the game at 48 on a fastbreak layup by freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott.

The score would be tied once more, at 50-50 with 8:49 remaining before UCR pulled away. Hitting the boards and penetrating on offense, the Highlanders went on a 9-1 run, seven of which came on free throws as the Gaels were hit by foul trouble. The lead stayed around eight points until sophomore center Kemie Nkele sealed the game, grabbing an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and laying it in to put UCR ahead 66-56 with 1:46 remaining. The Highlanders would go up by as much as 14 as St. Mary’s was left to chase the game.

Nkele rebounded from fouling out in consecutive games to play 38 minutes, leading all scorers with 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds (five offensive) for her third double-double of the season. Lott also recorded a double-double, the first of her career, with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Gbewonyo finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists while freshman forward Ronéy Friend had another outstanding game, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

The Gaels were led by Obaiza, who totaled 18 points and eight rebounds. Jontelle Smith added 12 points and Sheridan Arredondo chipped in 10 points and eight boards.

St. Mary’s led the entire first half, including by as much as 10, as they took advantage of seven UCR turnovers in the first eight minutes. The Gaels started the game shooting 8-for-16 from the floor but went just 4-of-17 the rest of the half as UCR came back to tie it at 31-31 at the break.

UCR finished the game shooting 45.6% (26-for-57) from the floor while the Gaels were at 36.4% (24-of-66). The Highlanders won the battle of the boards, 43-39, and held an edge in points in the paint, 30-26.

Lumberjacks Topple Highlanders 71-62

(December 4, 2005) - UC Riverside saw its two-game winning streak come to an end in a 71-62 non-conference loss at Northern Arizona University Sunday afternoon in Flagstaff, AZ. The Highlanders fall to 3-2 while the Lumberjacks win their fourth straight to improve to 5-1.

NAU avenged last season's 56-44 loss in Riverside by pounding the ball inside early and often. When the Highlanders collapsed defensively, NAU knocked down five three-pointers, including three during a crucial four-minute stretch of the second half that saw them extend their lead from 38-36 to 55-46.

UCR jumped out to an early 7-4 lead as NAU missed five of its first six shots. The Lumberjacks recovered to pull back to 12-9 but UCR went on a 10-4 run to grab their biggest lead, 22-13, with 7:36 left on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo. NAU got back-to-back three-pointers from Kim Winkfield to make it 27-23 but a three-point play by freshman guard Chanel Foster put UCR back up seven, 30-23.

Free throws brought the Lumberjacks back as the Highlanders got into foul trouble. NAU hit eight foul shots in the last three minutes of the first half and got a jumper by Sade Cunningham to go into the intermission trailing 34-33. The Highlanders shot 48.1% (13-for-27) in the first half while the Lumberjacks hit 37.0% (10-for-27) of their shots from the floor. NAU was 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the line in the opening half compared to UCR's 6-of-7 (85.7%).

NAU took its first lead of the game, 38-36, on a layup by Megan Porter with 17:58 remaining. Nicky Eason and Natalie Metz then hit back-to-back three-pointers as the Lumberjacks went ahead 44-38 with 15:31 left. Eason took control, scoring 10 points in the first seven minutes of the second half. She added a bucket at 7:18 to give NAU its largest lead to that point, 61-52.

Freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo scored six straight points to bring the Highlanders back to 65-60 with 2:12 left but a three-point play by Alyssa Wahl and a layup by Porter put NAU ahead by 10 with 1:14 remaining and the Highlanders did not recover.

UCR shot 42.9% (21-for-49) from the floor overall but only 8-for-22 (36.4%) in the second half. NAU hit 48.4% (15-of-31) from the floor in the second half and was 25-for-58 (43.1%) overall. NAU also outrebounded the Highlanders 37-31, including a 12-7 margin on offensive boards.

UCR had no answer all game to NAU's inside presence as the Lumberjacks outscored the Highlanders 22-18 in the paint. Eason led all scorers with 18 points, 12 in the second half. Porter added 16 points and eight rebounds while Wahl totalled 14 points and seven boards in her first action of the season.

Nkele scored 16 points to pace the Highlander attack while Gbewonyo poured in all 15 of her points after halftime. Campillo added nine points in her return to Northern Arizona, where she played in 2003-04.

Nkele Makes UCR History, Earns Third Career BWC Player of the Week Award

(December 5, 2005) - UC Riverside women’s basketball player Kemie Nkele has been named the Big West Conference’s Player of the Week for the week of November 28-December 4, it was announced Monday. It is Nkele’s second Player of the Week award this season and she becomes the first Highlander to ever be named Player of the Week three times in her career.

Nkele, a 6-1 center from Mira Mesa HS in San Diego, averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game this week as the Highlanders went 1-1. In Thursday’s 71-61 home win against St. Mary’s, Nkele registered her third double-double of the season and 19th of her career with game-highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds. She also made three steals and blocked her 100th career shot to lead UCR to its first victory over St. Mary’s since 1984. On Sunday at Northern Arizona, Nkele led the Highlanders with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 71-62 loss.

Nkele is averaging team-highs of 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while leading the Highlanders with nine blocked shots and 11 steals. She ranks in the conference’s top-10 in scoring (second), blocks (second), rebounds (third), field goal percentage (fourth), steals (tied for sixth), and minutes played (sixth).

Nkele has now won Player of the Week honors twice in the three ballots this season and three of the last four, dating back to last season. She joins Amy Houchens (2001-02) as the only UCR players to be honored twice in one season. Houchens (twice) and Casandra Reeves (once) are the only other Highlanders to have been voted Big West Player of the Week at all.

UCR is 3-2 for the first time since 1995-96. This week, the Highlanders play a pair of schools that appeared in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament last season. On Wednesday, UCR rounds out its early season non-conference schedule by hosting Brigham Young University at 7:10 p.m. On Saturday, the Highlanders face the first of three consecutive road games, traveling to Fresno State University for a 7 p.m. game.

Cougars Run Down Highlanders, 67-53

(December 7, 2005) - UC Riverside suffered its first home loss of the season, falling 67-53 to Brigham Young University in a non-conference game Wednesday night at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders drop to 3-3 on the season while the Cougars remain undefeated at 6-0.

UCR took a 2-0 lead on a basket by sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo but that would be the only lead the Highlanders would hold. BYU quickly rattled off a 13-2 run to go ahead 13-4 with 13:43 left in the first half. The Highlanders got back within five, 21-16, on a three-pointer by freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo with 5:33 left but the Cougars ended the half on a 12-6 spurt to take a 33-22 halftime lead. UCR struggled from the floor, shooting just 8-of-32 (25.0%), including 3-of-14 (21.4%) from three-point range while BYU made half of its 26 attempts in the opening stanza. UCR was also 3-for-10 (30.0%) from the free throw line in the first half.

BYU came out firing in the second half, as Jennie Keele and Mallary Gillespie hit back-to-back three-pointers and Ambrosia Anderson added a jumper to give the Cougars their largest advantage, 42-27, with 15:33 left. The Highlanders came roaring back through sophomore center Kemie Nkele. Nkele scored ten of the Highlanders' next 12 points on a three-pointer, two jumpers, and a three-point play as UCR pulled within four, 47-43, with 10:31 left.

A jumper by Anderson and consecutive buckets by Gillespie increased the BYU lead back up to 10, 53-43. UCR closed to within four again thanks to four points by Nkele and a pair of free throws by freshman guard Chanel Foster. That would be the closest UCR would get, as BYU grabbed five offensive rebounds in the final six minutes and UCR turned the ball over five times.

BYU ended the game shooting 46.4% (26-for-56) from the floor while UCR was under 40% for the first time in four games, shooting 19-for-53 (35.8%) overall and 5-for-21 (23.8%) from three-point range. BYU also held a 36-34 advantage in rebounds, grabbing 10 offensive boards in the second half alone.

Anderson led all scorers with 21 points, 13 in the second half. She also added eight rebounds while Lauren Riley had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Gillespie finished with 11 points and Keele chipped in 10 on 3-for-4 shooting from downtown.

Nkele was the only Highlander to reach double figures, totalling 20 points and seven rebounds. Foster added a career-high nine points off the bench.

Bulldogs Bite Highlanders 67-50

(December 10, 2005) - UC Riverside lost its third straight game, falling 67-50 at Fresno State Saturday night at the Save Mart Center. The Highlanders drop to 3-4 on the season while the Bulldogs win their third straight to improve to 5-2.

In the schools' first meeting in 25 years, UCR fell behind 5-0 early before making four of its first five shots to go ahead 9-8 at the 15:20 mark. Sophomore center Kemie Nkele scored nine points in the opening 9:10 of the game but, unfortunately, it was downhill from there. The Highlanders made two of its next 21 shots and scored just one basket in the final 10 minutes of the first half while Nkele was whistled for four fouls and Head Coach John Margaritis was assessed a technical foul as Fresno State rattled off a 13-0 run and took a 32-15 lead at the break.

UCR started the second half like it started the game, hitting its first three shots. The cold fog from outside the arena then seeped in again as the Highlanders missed their next 11 attempts before a layup by freshman forward Amber Cox ended the drought.

The Highlanders would not go quietly as back-to-back three-pointers by Cox and senior guard Kirsten Muir jump-started a 10-0 run to cut into the deficit. Nkele's fifth foul at 10:19 didn't slow down the Highlander comeback and Muir's second three-pointer made it 42-38 with 7:56 to go.

That would be as close as UCR would get as Fresno State controlled the next four minutes, running off a 14-5 spurt to regain a double-digit lead.

Cox was a bright spot for UCR, pouring in a career-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds. Nkele finished with nine points. Muir had six and sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo added five points, three assists, two steals, and a career-high two blocks.

The Bulldogs were led by Brittani Green and Amy Parrish, who each had 14 points. Parrish added 11 rebounds. Erica Henry chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Free throws and fouls were a major factor as the Bulldogs were 21-for-29 (72.5%) from the line while Cox sank all five of UCR's attempts from the charity stripe. FSU ended the game shooting 41.2% (21-for-51) compared to UCR's season-low 29.7% (19-for-64).

Nkele Out Four Weeks With Finger Fracture

(December 16, 2005) - UC Riverside sophomore center Kemie Nkele (San Diego, CA) fractured the index finger on her left (non-shooting) hand during practice on Wednesday and is expected to miss up to four weeks, Head Coach John Margaritis announced Friday.

Nkele is averaging team-highs of 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while leading the Highlanders with 11 blocked shots and 11 steals. She ranks in the Big West Conference’s top-10 in scoring (second), blocks (second), rebounds (third), field goal percentage (fourth), three-point percentage (tied for third), and minutes played (fourth).

Nkele will travel but will not suit up as UCR heads to Iowa for a pair of games next week. The Highlanders (3-4) play at Iowa State on Monday at 5:00 p.m. and Drake University Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific).

Cyclones Blow Past Highlanders, 65-40

(December 19, 2005) - UC Riverside fell 65-40 at Iowa State in front of 7402 fans Monday night at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA. The Highlanders drop their fourth straight contest to fall to 3-5 on the season while the Cyclones win their sixth in a row to improve to 7-1.

The 10 degree outside temperature at tip-off might have had something to do with UCR's early shooting as the Highlanders missed their first seven shots and fell behind 7-0. UCR finally got on the board at the 13:55 mark when freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo hit a three-pointer from the left side. Two minutes later, Gbewonyo connected from the right side to cut the Cyclones' lead to 7-6 as ISU was cold itself, started 3-of-17 from the floor.

UCR took its first lead of the game at the 5:10 mark of the first half on a baseline jumper by freshman forward Roney Friend that made it 17-16. The Cyclones responded with a 17-3 run to close out the half, punctuated by a three-pointer from Lisa Bildeaux as time expired that put Iowa State ahead 33-20. ISU shot 10-for-33 (30.3%) from the floor in the opening half, including 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three-point range. The Highlanders were 7-of-32 (21.9%) in the first half and attempted 16 three-pointers, making four (25.0%).

Iowa State started the second half by making its first six shots, including back-to-back three-pointers by Lyndsey Medders and Heather Ezell that pushed the Cyclones' lead to its largest until that point, 48-24 with 14:48 left in the game. The Highlanders could not recover.

UCR was led by freshman forward Amber Cox, who registered nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds before fouling out with 10:22 left. Senior guard Jennifer Valdez also tallied nine points off the bench while Gbewonyo had seven.

Medders paced the Cyclones with 15 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Brittany Wilkins added 12 points and 14 rebounds while Ezell had 10 points.

UCR set a new school record with 38 three-point attempts, breaking the old record of 31 set at Cal Poly on February 16, 1999. The Highlanders made just seven of their treys, finishing with an 18.4% from downtown. Overall, UCR was 13-for-64 (20.3%) from the floor, its lowest shooting percentage of the season.

Iowa State attempted 32 three-pointers, falling two shy of the UCR opponents' record of 34 attempts, jointly held by Idaho and UC Irvine. They made nine threes for a 28.1 percentage from downtown. Overall, ISU shot 33.3% (21-for-63) from the floor.

The Cyclones took advantage of the absence of UCR's leading rebounder, sophomore center Kemie Nkele, to outrebound the Highlanders 64-35. ISU pulled down the most rebounds by a UCR opponent in the Division I era, the second-most in school history, and the most since 1985.

Drake Downs UCR 69-51

(December 21, 2005) - UC Riverside completed its Iowa road trip with its fifth straight loss, falling 69-51 at Drake University in front of 1157 fans Wednesday night at the Drake Knapp Center in Des Moines, IA. The Highlanders drop to 3-6 on the season while the Bulldogs improve to 4-5.

UCR got off to a better start than two nights earlier against Iowa State, tying the game at 10-10 at 15:12. Drake then went on a 6-0 run to gain some separation but UCR responded with a 6-0 run of its own to tie the game at 16-all with 11:09 left. From that point on, the Bulldogs made their next four shots to kick start a 17-2 run for a 33-21 lead with 3:49 remaining. The Highlanders made just two shots over the final 8:52 of the first half, going into the locker room trailing 43-23.

The Bulldogs shot 54.8% (17-for-31) in the first half while the Highlanders made 8-of-27 (29.6%) but just 3-of-10 (30.0%) from three-point range.

Despite outscoring the Bulldogs in the second half, the Highlanders got no closer than 15 points.

Playing without their two top rebounders, sophomore center Kemie Nkele (broken finger) and freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott (flu), the Highlanders struggled on the boards, getting outrebounded 53-31, including 21-9 on the offensive glass. Drake also controlled the paint, outscoring UCR 34-20 down low.

UCR shot 19-for-58 (32.8%) from the floor overall compared to Drake's 41.3% (26-for-63).

Freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo led the Highlanders with a career-high 18 points along with six rebounds. Freshman forward Amber Cox had 11 points and a career-high seven blocks, the second-most ever by a Drake opponent, before fouling out. Senior guard Kirsten Muir added seven points and six rebounds.

Jill Martin paced the Bulldogs with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Brandy Dahir and Ashleigh Brady each added 11.

Mustangs Gallop Past Highlanders 87-53

(December 29, 2005) - UC Riverside lost its Big West Conference opener, falling 87-53 to Cal Poly Thursday night in front of 279 fans at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders lose their sixth straight game to drop to 3-7 overall, 0-1 in the Big West while the Mustangs improve to 6-4, 1-0 in the BWC.

UCR came into the game struggling from the field, having shot below 33% from the floor in each of its previous three games. The Highlanders did not help themselves on this night, getting off to a 2-for-12 start from the floor. With 16:17 remaining in the first half, the Highlanders trailed 6-5 but Cal Poly went on an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to grab a 17-5 lead. UCR never got the deficit under 10 the rest of the way as Poly took a 36-19 halftime lead before outscoring UCR 51-34 in the second half.

Cal Poly shot 50.0% (34-for-68) from the floor, the first opponent to do so against the Highlanders this season. The Mustangs did it both inside and outside, sinking 7-of-15 (46.7%) from three-point range and outscoring UCR 44-20 in the paint. UCR overcame an 8-for-28 (28.6%) showing in the first half to shoot 20-for-55 (36.4%) overall and 6-for-15 (40.0%) from three-point range. The high-tempo Mustangs also forced 23 Highlander turnovers.

UCR was led by sophomore guard Courtney Good's career-high nine points on three three-pointers off the bench. Freshmen forwards Amber Cox and Tainoisouti Lott each had eight points with Cox also grabbing seven rebounds.

Five Mustangs reached double figures, led by Megan Harrison's 15 points and eight rebounds off the pine. Jessica Eggleston had 13 points and Jennifer Dooley sank four treys for all 12 of her points. Sarah Grieve added 11 points, six rebounds, and four blocks while Emilie Ravn had 10 points.

Poly's 87 points were the most-ever scored by the Mustangs against UCR and were the most allowed by a Highlander team in a Big West opener. The previous high had also come against Cal Poly in an 86-67 loss in 2003.

UCSB Maintains Hold on UCR 73-48

(January 2, 2006) - UC Riverside lost its second consecutive Big West Conference game, falling 73-48 at UC Santa Barbara Monday night in front of 818 fans at the Thunderdome. The Highlanders lose their seventh straight game to drop to 3-8 overall, 0-2 in the Big West while the Gauchos improve to 5-6, 1-0 in the BWC.

UCR started five freshmen for the first time this season and the fab five did well in the early going as forward Tainoisouti Lott and guard Chanel Foster gave the Highlanders a 4-2 lead after two minutes. The teams then traded baskets as UCSB went ahead 9-8 at the 13:35 mark. From that point, the Gauchos went on an 11-0 run as UCR failed to score over the next four minutes until a jumper by sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo broke the drought and made it 20-10 at 8:31.

The Gauchos extended their lead to 36-18 at the half, shooting a scorching 57.7% (15-for-26) from the field, including 62.5% (5-for-8) from three-point range, compared to 33.3% (9-for-27) from the floor by the Highlanders.

UCR started the second half on fire, hitting nine of its first 13 shots. However, the Highlanders could not cut the deficit down under 16. UCR ended the game shooting 39.2% (20-for-51), the sixth straight game below 40% and scoring 53 points or fewer. UCSB shot 47.5% (29-for-61) from the floor and 8-for-19 (42.1%) from three-point range.

Lott finished with her second career double-double, leading the Highlanders with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Amber Cox chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.

The ten-time defending Big West champions, UCSB extended its winning streak against current conference members to 44 games, including all nine meetings against UCR at the Division I level. The Highlanders' last victory over the Gauchos was on December 16, 1986 and their last win in Santa Barbara was on January 4, 1986.

Jenna Green had a game-high 15 points and added eight rebounds while Karena Bonds contributed 13 points and five assists for the Gauchos. Kat Suderman came off the bench for 11 points.

UCR last started 0-2 in BWC play in 2003-04. The seven game losing streak is UCR's longest since starting the 2003-04 season 0-8.

Whistles, Tigers Can't Stop Highlanders 74-64

(January 7, 2006) - UC Riverside snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 74-64 victory over visiting University of the Pacific Saturday afternoon in front of 207 fans at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders gain their first Big West Conference win to improve to 4-8, 1-2, while the Tigers fall to 4-9, 1-1.

For the second straight game, the Highlanders started five freshmen and they responded, as four players reached double figures, led by forward Ronéy Friend's 19. Friend was 8-for-14 from the floor and added five rebounds and a career-high four steals.

The game got off to an ugly start as the teams combined for 12 turnovers, 17 fouls, and 23 points in the first eight minutes. At one point, there were more fouls in the game than points. Still, Pacific hit eight of its first 10 shots to go ahead 23-12 with 9:43 left in the first half. UCR responded with a 15-3 run to take its first lead, 27-26, with 4:46 remaining as six different players scored in the stretch.

The teams traded baskets the rest of the half but UOP took a 36-34 lead into the locker room as Kelsey Lavender hit a runner as the buzzer sounded. The Tigers were scorching in the first half, shooting 63.2% (12-of-19) from the floor, including 6-of-9 (66.7%) from three-point range. Lavender had 12 points at the break but was undone by committing six of UOP's 18 turnovers. The Highlanders in turn shot 44.8% (13-of-29) from the floor and grabbed seven offensive rebounds as Friend poured in 11 points by the break.

UCR played an inspired beginning to the second half, rattling off a 14-3 run to open the half and take its largest lead, 50-39, with 14:01 to go. Friend scored six points during the run. The Highlanders went cold after that, making one of their next six shots while UOP's Renee Roberts hit two three-pointers to kick-start a 13-2 run that tied the game at 52-all.

With the game knotted at 57 with 6:14 left, UCR clamped down on defense and fed the ball inside, where center Tainoisouti Lott scored eight points down the stretch as the Highlanders closed out the game on a 17-7 run.

UCR shot 50% (12-for-24) from the field in the second half and sank 15-of-19 (78.9%) free throws to seal the win. UOP was 9-for-23 (39.1%) from the floor in the final 20 minutes.

UCR snapped a string of six straight games scoring less than 53 points by shooting 47.2% (25-for-53) overall. Lott finished with 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds while forward Amber Cox and guard Seyram Gbewonyo each added 12 points. Cox also had a career-high five steals as UCR totalled a season-high 18 swipes.

Pacific became the second team in three games to shoot 50% against the Highlanders, sinking 21-of-42 from the floor and 9-of-18 from three-point range. Despite outrebounding UCR 30-26, the Tigers committed 33 turnovers, including 11 by Lavender. Lavender finished with a game-high 22 points while Roberts had 16 and Carolina Ruiz had 15 points and eight rebounds.

The win snaps UCR's longest losing streak since 2003-04 and avoids the program's first 0-3 conference start since 2002-03. It was also the Highlanders' third straight victory over the Tigers.

UCR Winning Streak Halted at One, 76-70

(January 9, 2006) - UC Riverside's late rally was not enough to topple visiting Cal State Northridge in a 76-70 defeat Monday night in front of 227 fans at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders fall to 4-9, 1-3 in the Big West Conference, while the Matadors improve to 4-10, 1-2.

UCR trailed by as many as 17 with 5:30 remaining but chipped away at the Matador lead, using a full-court press to force seven turnovers and close to within 10 at the 2:50 mark. A three-pointer by freshman forward Amber Cox cut it to six with 13 seconds left but freshman guard Chanel Foster was charged with an intentional foul, giving CSUN two foul shots and the ball back. LaJoyce King hit one of two from the line and even though UCR forced another turnover and got a free throw from sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo, it was too little, too late.

The Highlanders were behind by eight at the half, 34-26, but immediately cut it to three on a pair of free throws by freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott and a steal and layup by freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo. Just as soon as the game was close, Northridge rattled off an 11-2 run to go ahead 54-42 with 11:24 left. The Matadors then continued to pull away before UCR's late rally.

UCR struggled from the floor, shooting 30.7% (23-for-75) for the game, while the Matadors hit 51.1% (24-for-47). CSUN also hit 5-of-9 (55.6%) from three-point range while dominating on the boards, 53-28 despite committing 31 turnovers.

Four Highlanders scored in double figures, led by Cox's 18 points and four steals. Gbewonyo added 17 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Freshman forward Ronéy Friend had 13 points and freshman guard Chanel Foster registered career-highs of 12 points and seven assists.

Jamie McCaa led all scorers with 22 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-3 from three-point range. She added seven rebounds. Jazelle Burries chipped in 18 points and 14 boards while King finished with 13 points and seven assists.

UCR Falters at Fullerton, 68-62

(January 14, 2006) - UC Riverside opened a three-game road trip with a tight 68-62 loss at Cal State Fullerton Saturday afternoon in front of 109 fans at Titan Gym. The Highlanders fall to 4-10, 1-4 in the Big West Conference, while the Titans improve to 5-10, 3-2.

In her return after missing six games with a fractured finger, sophomore center Kemie Nkele had a UCR season-high 25 points, with 16 coming in the second half. She added five rebounds, four assists, and a career-high five steals. Freshman forward Amber Cox chipped in 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

UCR fell behind early as it struggled to control the ball. Fullerton went ahead 13-5 before the Highlanders started chipping away at the lead. UCR took its first lead on a turnaround jumper by Nkele with 1:25 left. The Highlanders went into the locker room at halftime holding a 31-29 advantage, shooting 10-for-23 (43.5%) in the first half despite committing 14 turnovers. The Titans hit 29.7% (11-of-37) from the floor but turned the ball over 13 times themselves.

The Highlanders took their largest lead of the game, 34-29 as Nkele made a three-point play to start the second half. UCR maintained its advantage until a pair of free throws by Audrey Taylor put CSUF ahead 59-57 with 3:34 left.

The Titans then went up 64-59 on a three-pointer by Tamaiya Smith before Nkele hit a jumper in the lane to cut the deficit to three. UCR got a pair of stops but freshman forward Amber Cox had the ball raked away from her by Adams, who fed Toni Thomas for a layup to make it 66-61. Nkele made one of two free throws on the next possession but Taylor sealed the game with a pair from the line with 17.2 seconds remaining.

UCR shot 45.5% (20-for-44) for the game but was 17-for-26 (65.4%) from the line. Cal State Fullerton shot 32.4% (22-for-68) and was 20-for-24 (83.3%) on free throws, including 16-of-18 in the second half.

The Titans were led by Thomas, who finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds while Smith had all 13 of her points in the second half.

UCR remains winless on the road, falling to 0-7 away from Riverside.

Road Skid Slams to a Halt, 76-46 at UCI

(January 19, 2006) - UC Riverside won its first road game of the season, routing UC Irvine 76-46 Thursday night in front of 312 fans at the Bren Events Center. The Highlanders to 5-10, 2-4 in the Big West Conference, while the Anteaters fall to 3-14, 1-4.

The injury-depleted Highlanders were playing without freshman guard Chanel Foster and freshman forward Tainoisouti Lott, who were both out with injury. It didn't matter as UCR placed four players in double figures, including getting double-doubles from three in posting their largest margin of victory this season.

UCR opened the game sinking eight of its first ten shots to take an early 17-1 lead as UCI missed all 12 of its shots. Sophomore center Kemie Nkele and freshman forward Ronéy Friend combined for 15 points in the opening eight minutes. The Highlanders extended their lead to 29-6 at the 8:41 mark before the Anteaters started chipping away with free throws and three-pointers, pulling to within 10, 37-27, with 2:38 left in the first half. A rare four-point play by sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo and a Nkele jumper at the buzzer sent UCR into the locker room with a 45-27 halftime lead. The point total was the highest for UCR in any one half this season.

The Highlanders shot a season-high 62.1% (18-for-29) from the floor in the first half, including 3-for-4 (75.0%) from three-point range. UCR also outscored UCI 22-0 in the paint in the opening period. The Anteaters went 6-for-29 (20.7%) from the floor but kept the scoreline relatively close by sinking 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the free throw line.

UCR continued its hot shooting in the second half, making 50.0% (13-of-26) to finish the game at a season-high 56.4% (31-for-55) from the floor. UCI was held to 6-of-33 (18.2%) from the field in the last 20 minutes and finished 12-for-62 (19.4%) overall. The Highlanders held a 32-6 advantage on points in the paint.

Nkele went for her 20th career double-double with game-highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds while Friend tied her career-high with 20 points, hitting 9 of 11 shots from the floor. Campillo notched career-highs of 14 points and 12 assists, the third-highest single-game assist total in Highlander history. Freshman forward Amber Cox rounded out the trio of double-doubles with the first of her career, 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Angie Ned had 14 points to lead the Anteaters while Annie Mai chipped in 11 points.

UCR improves to 1-7 away from home in gaining its third straight victory over UCI. The Highlanders improve to 19-11 all-time against the Anteaters, including 8-2 in the Big West Conference.

49ers Survive Highlanders, 62-59

(January 21, 2006) - Long Beach State escaped UC Riverside's upset bid, 62-59, in a Big West Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in front of 563 fans at the Walter Pyramid. The Highlanders fall to 5-11, 2-5 in the Big West Conference, while the 49ers maintain their perfect conference record and improve to 13-5, 6-0.

In a game that saw six lead changes and seven ties, a three-point play by freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo gave UCR its last lead, 59-58, with 2:54 left. Neither team scored until LBSU's Jeannie Saunders stole the ball and laid it in to put LBSU up one with 1:05 left. Sophomore center Kemie Nkele then missed a jumper and, after a 49er timeout, Karina Figueroa missed a jumper in the lane but the ball was tied up, with the possession arrow going to Long Beach State with 13.2 left.

UCR couldn't track down a player to foul until 4.2 seconds left when sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo fouled Crystal McCutcheon. She made both and the 49ers pressed, keeping the Highlanders without a shot as time expired.

Nkele posted her third straight 20-point game with her 21st career double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Campillo added 12 points and six assists while Gbewonyo came off the bench for 11 points and five rebounds.

McCutcheon led three 49ers in scoring with 17 points. Fernanda Santos scored 14 of her 15 points in the second half and added a game-high 12 rebounds. Figueroa chipped in 10 points.

Free throws were the story in the game as LBSU hit 13-of-17 (76.5%) while UCR went to the line just six times, all in the second half, making five for an 83.3 clip.

UCR shot 36.7% (22-for-60) overall and sank 50% from three-point range for the second straight game, tying the school single-game record with 10 triples in 19 attempts (52.6%). The 49ers were 22-for-62 (35.5%) overall and held a 43-37 rebounding advantage.

Coming off their first road win of the season, the Highlanders started strong, with Nkele scoring eight points on UCR's game-opening 14-6 run as they made six of their first 11 shots. The 49ers got hot, cutting to within two, 19-17, with 6:21 left. Stellar three-point shooting helped UCR maintain its lead as the Highlanders sank six treys in the first half to take a 30-26 halftime lead. UCR shot 12-for-30 (40.0%) in the first half, including 6-for-11 (54.5%) from three-point range while LBSU was 9-of-30 (30.0%) overall in the opening frame.

Long Beach State took its first lead since 4-2 at 31-30 with 18:31 remaining. The Highlanders remained steady but Nkele was whistled for two quick fouls, her third and fourth, with 16:57 left. From that point, the 49ers went on a 19-11 run, to take their largest lead at 53-46 with 8:07 left. Nkele immediately returned to the floor and spurred a 7-0 run with five points to pull UCR even at 53-all at the 5:21 mark.

LBSU won its third consecutive game against UCR and its seventh straight home game this season.

UC Davis Shoots Past UCR, 68-53

(January 26, 2006) - UC Riverside fell 68-53 to UC Davis in a non-conference game Thursday night in front of 207 fans at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders drop to 5-12 overall while the Aggies improve to 10-9.

UC Davis came out on fire and didn't let up, hitting its first six three-pointers en route to a 39-28 halftime lead. The Highlanders limited the Aggies to just one trifecta in the second half but UCD continually cut back-door for layups, shooting 52.3% (23-for-44) overall from the floor. When UCR fouled the Aggies, the result was much the same as UCD hit 15-of-16 (93.8%) free throws. Just for good measure, Davis finished 7-for-11 (63.6%) from behind the arc.

On the other side of the coin, the Highlanders could not take advantage of 17 offensive rebounds, shooting 34.4% (21-for-61) overall and 4-for-25 (16.0%) from three-point range. UCR also sank just 50% (7-for-14) from the line.

The Highlanders held a 35-31 rebounding advantage, recording more boards than their opponents for the first time in 13 games. UCR also committed 14 turnovers to Davis' 16, but 11 of UCR's turnovers came in the second half.

Sophomore center Kemie Nkele recorded her third consecutive double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also blocked two shots to move within one of the UCR career record of 112 blocks. Freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo added 12 points and freshman forward Ronéy Friend had 11.

UC Davis gained four players in double figures. Kimberly Smith led all scorers with 17 points for UC Davis, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-for-4 from three-point range. Jessica Campbell had 15, Jackie Turpin chipped in 13, and Lara Gray contributed 10 points for the Aggies.

After being swept last season by the Highlanders, UC Davis improves to 5-2 this season against future Big West Conference opponents. The Aggies will join the conference in 2007-08.

UCR continues its current home stretch against Utah Valley State on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.

Gbewonyo's Career Night Lifts Highlanders

(January 28, 2006) - UC Riverside held off a late rally by visiting Utah Valley State College for a 69-62 non-conference victory Saturday afternoon in front of 208 fans at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders got career-highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds from freshman guard Seyram Gbewonyo to improve to 6-12 overall. The Wolverines fall to 7-13 on the season.

In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Utah Valley State rallied from 17 points down with 12:30 to play to tie it at 57 with 1:48 remaining. Gbewonyo then stepped up, scoring seven points down the stretch. First she hit a big three-pointer, her fourth of the game, to put the Highlanders ahead 60-57. After a layup by Robyn Fairbanks brought the Wolverines within one, senior guard Kirsten Muir gave UCR a four-point cushion with a triple from the top of the key. Gbewonyo then closed it out with four free throws and freshman forward Amber Cox added a pair from the line.

A lackluster first half saw the teams combine to shoot 27.6%, including a stretch of 5:22 in which neither team scored. The Highlanders ended the half on a 10-4 run to take a 23-18 lead.

Both sides greatly improved their shooting in the second half, as each team topped the 50% mark. After shooting 1-for-9 from three-point range in the first half, the Highlanders hit 8-for-13 (61.5%) from long range and made 53.8% (14-for-26) from the floor in the second half. Overall, UCR shot 22-for-52 (42.3%) to overcome sinking just 16-of-27 (59.3%) from the line.

Utah Valley State finished 38.5% (25-for-65) overall, including 51.5% in the second half. They missed seven of their 13 free throws for 46.2%.

The Highlanders seemingly had the game in hand after opening the second half on a 25-13 run to take their largest lead, 48-31, with 13:14 remaining. But with sophomore center Kemie Nkele on the bench after picking up her fifth foul at the 13:43 mark, the Wolverines went inside to Robyn Fairbanks, who scored 17 of her team-high 23 points in the second half, including 10 after Nkele fouled out.

In addition to Gbewonyo’s first career double-double, sophomore guard Vanessa Campillo added 14 points while freshman forward Ronéy Friend chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds. Cox finished with seven points, nine rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. Before fouling out, Nkele tied the UCR record for career blocked shots, swatting the 112th of her career to tie Donna Hammond-Mares.

Fairbanks had 23 points and nine rebounds for UVSC, who also got 11 points from Miriam Palkki.

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