SAN DIEGO – Playing in their penultimate non-conference game, the San Diego women's basketball team (5-7, 0-0 WCC) secured its second consecutive win at home with a 63-56 victory over UC Riverside (2-7, 1-1 Big West) on Sunday afternoon in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Bouncing back from the loss at Wisconsin, the Toreros were on point from both ends of the court as they took the lead two minutes into the game and never looked back.
Sophomore guard Kylie Ray made her first start in nearly a month, leading the team with 18 points scored and tied for the team lead in rebounds with nine. On the defensive end, the Toreros had their most blocks in a game since the 2020s started, and they also forced eight Highlander turnovers.
Sophomore forward Eva Ruse was key off the bench for the Toreros in her 23 minutes of action as she scored seven points and collected six rebounds to finish +10 for the game that helped USD improve to 4-2 at home for the 2025-26 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Reigning WCC Freshman of the Week Ayla Williams put San Diego on the board first with a mid-range shot for the first points of the game off an assist from Ray.
- The Toreros took the lead back with the first three-pointer of the game from Olivia Owens to make it 5-4 San Diego.
- Both teams were draining three-pointers by the end of the first quarter, with 12 of San Diego's 22 points coming from beyond the arc.
- Newly checked into the game, Helen Holley and Ruse teamed up for the first points of the second quarter when Holley picked up an offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Ruse for a mid-range jumper to make it 26-16 USD.
- After the Highlanders worked to narrow their deficit, Lilly Amor scored her first points of the game with a three-pointer to make the score 35-28.
- In another high-scoring first half at home, three-pointers were critical for both teams as the two sides combined for 10 long-range connections as San Diego led 36-33 going into halftime.
- A minute into the second half, Owens got her sixth rebound of the game as the Toreros and sprinted down the court to make way for H. Rhodes to drive and lay in the first points of the half to make it a 38-33 USD lead.
- After a quiet start to the third quarter, Ruse went up for a tough offensive board that led to San Diego maintaining possession as Dresha Moore drove and made a layup to make it 42-37.
- Later on, Owens passed the ball to H. Rhodes who made a pull up jumper to increase San Diego's lead to 50-39.
- The San Diego defense continued to make it difficult for UC Riverside to score, limiting them to only six points in the third quarter while forcing a pair of turnovers.
- The Highlanders chipped away at their deficit midway through the final quarter before Ray swished a three-pointer to make it 56-47.
- After multiple possessions on both ends with no score, Holley put up her first points of the game following a strong drive to the paint to make it 58-47.
- USD preserved their lead from the first two minutes of the game, and despite a couple of three-pointers from the Highlanders to decrease the lead, as they went on to win 63-56 on Sunday in the JCP.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Ray made her first start for the Toreros since November 17, as she scored 18 points, while also grabbing nine defensive rebounds, dishing three assists and knocking down a trio of three point shots.
- The Toreros' defense was spectacular as they accumulated 10 blocks, the program's most since they had 11 in their 79-56 victory over Seattle U during the 2013-14 season.
- The Rhodes twins shined on the floor for San Diego, as Jayden Rhodes played a season-high 23 minutes putting up five points, and H. Rhodes scored nine points and dished out a team-best five assists.
POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
NEXT UP
USD now looks ahead to the program's last non-conference game of the season as they will host Cal State Fullerton (5-5, 2-0 Big West) this Saturday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m. from the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Live video, live statistics and ticket links for Saturday's matchup with the Titans can be found via the team's schedule page.
