Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

Riverside, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers fought hard, but fell to the No. 1 team in the Big West, UC Riverside, by a final score of 58-51 on Saturday, February 10th in Riverside, Calif.

With the loss, the Tigers fall to 8-17, 2-9 in Big West conference play, while the Highlanders improve to 16-9, 10-1 in the Big West.

The first half saw the Tigers take an early 15-10 lead, only to see the Highlanders erupt for a 24-6 run to close out the half, giving UC Riverside a 34-21 halftime advantage. The Tigers got six first half points from junior Tyler Moran (Carmel, Calif.), while sophomore Whitney Price (Las Vegas, Nev.) added five rebounds. Amber Cox score 10 first half points to lead the Highlanders, while Kemie Nkele added eight points and five rebounds. Cox, who did not play against the Tigers earlier this season in Stockton, was 4-of-6 from the field in the half.

In the second half, the Tigers came out of the locker room determined, scoring the halves first 12 points to cut the Highlander lead to one. Nkele answered back with a three for UCR, but sophomore Karen Dawkins (Colorado Springs, Col.) came back with a layup to keep the Tigers within two. Pacific had a chance to take the lead, but a three pointer hit the back of the iron, and the Highlanders took advantage, going on an 11-4 run of their own to take a nine point lead at 48-39.

The Tigers fought back as freshman Jake Kelly (Sacramento, Calif.) hit a three-pointer with 4:43 remaining to pull the Tigers to within four points at 50-46. After a made free throw by UCR, the Tigers pulled to within two on a three point play by freshman Emma Head (San Diego, Calif.). But the Tigers would get no closer as the Highlanders would go 4-for-4 at the line to close out the game, and add a shot clock ending three by Brittany Waddell to win 58-51.

For the game the Tigers had three players in double figures as Kelly, Freeman and Dawkins each posted 10 points. Moran ended the game with eight points and a team and career high nine rebounds.

UCR was led by Nkele, who had 13 points, while Cox ended the game with 12. The Highlanders outshot the Tigers 34.5% to 29.3% from the field and 60% to 53.8% from the foul stripe. The game saw 51 total free throws shot, and 50 fouls called with the Highlanders having two players foul out and the Tigers having one player disqualified.

Pacific is next in action on Thursday, February 15th as they travel to UC Davis for a non-conference tilt scheduled for 7 p.m.