RIVERSIDE, Calif.: The Pacific women's basketball team (1-0) controlled the game from the start on its way to an 83-61 win over UC Riverside (0-1).
Sophomore Anaya James picked up right where she left off last season, scoring 21 points, only missing one shot, and taking no free throws. Junior Liz Smith added 12 points. Junior Cecilia Holmberg led the team with eight rebounds and scored nine points. Coming off the bench, junior Madelene Ennis led the team in minutes played (29), blocks (2), free throws made (5) and scored nine points. Nine different Tigers scored in the win.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 12-3 lead as James scored six early points. The Tigers never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 23 heading into the half. The Tiger defense held the Highlanders to 23 points in the first half.
The Tigers led by as many as 31 thanks to a 14-0 run to end the first half and start the second half. The Tigers took seven fewer shots than the Highlanders but shot 57.1% from the field and 41.7% from three. Pacific outrebounded UC Riverside 46-24.
The Tigers are back at the Alex G. Spanos Center at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov 11, taking on preseason No. 2 Stanford.
