RIVERSIDE (Interstat) — Graecyn Parahi scored 19 points and Kaylani Polk added 12 as UC Riverside rolled past Occidental 83-40 in a women’s NCAA Division I non-divisional game on Tuesday at UCR Rec Center. The Highlanders, playing at home, improved to 1-0. Occidental was the visiting team.

UC Riverside set the tone early after Occidental’s Joniya Woods opened with a three-point play. Parahi answered with a 3-pointer, London Gamble hit another 3-pointer and Alana White made a free throw as the Highlanders moved in front. Kyori Lloyd added two free throws, Lucia Moreno Tallon scored on a tip-in, Dylan Tse made four free throws and Polk converted a layup during a first-quarter surge. Quinn Godfrey’s jump shot pulled Occidental to 20-9 before White’s layup ended the quarter. UC Riverside led 22-9 after the first quarter and took a 35-20 advantage into halftime. Occidental’s Lexi London hit a 3-pointer and a jump shot in the second quarter, and Nicole Vanegas converted a three-point play, but UC Riverside answered with Lloyd’s two layups and Parahi’s second 3-pointer of the half. The Highlanders kept stretching the margin in the third quarter, using consecutive 3-pointers from Parahi and a pullup jumper by Polk to turn a 13-point lead into a 21-point cushion. UC Riverside led 58-28 after three quarters and closed out the game from there.

Parahi, a 6-foot forward from Napier, New Zealand, who previously attended International School, finished with 19 points and two rebounds in 24 minutes. Polk, a 5-8 guard from Paramount, had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes. Gamble added eight points, eight rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes. Amy Pateman scored eight points and handed out five assists in 12 minutes. Lloyd had eight points, three rebounds, an assist and a block in 15 minutes. Maria Mejia contributed six points, three assists, one rebound and a block in 15 minutes. White had three points, two rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes. Morgan Mack scored five points and grabbed a rebound in seven minutes. Moreno Tallon added three points, three rebounds and a block in 12 minutes. Taylor Swanson finished with five points, five rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 24 minutes.

UC Riverside scored 83 points on 85 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.3, and finished with 13 offensive rebounds, 23 assists, six blocks and 11 turnovers. The Highlanders’ balance showed throughout the rotation as nine players scored and several contributed in multiple categories. Occidental could not match that depth after a competitive opening minute. Woods gave the Tigers an early lift, but UC Riverside’s defense and transition game settled in quickly. The Highlanders held Occidental to single-digit scoring in the first and third quarters and kept the Tigers from putting together a sustained run. The Tigers finished with 40 points and never recovered from the early deficit.

The most important stretch came in the third quarter. UC Riverside already led 35-20 at halftime, and after Occidental’s Quinn Godfrey made a layup to start the second half, Parahi hit a 3-pointer, Polk made a pullup jumper and Parahi connected again from beyond the arc. That burst pushed the Highlanders’ lead to 43-22 and forced Occidental to play catch-up the rest of the way. Parahi’s outside shooting was a central part of the run, and Polk’s shot-making kept the pressure on. UC Riverside later closed the third quarter with a layup by Parahi and a 3-pointer by Mack to take a 58-28 lead into the fourth.

Occidental had no answer in the final quarter. UC Riverside opened the fourth with a layup by Polk and maintained a comfortable margin even as both teams went deeper into their benches. Pateman made consecutive layups midway through the period, and Mejia added a layup and a free throw as the Highlanders moved past 70 points. Occidental got free throws from Madelyn Peiffer and Morgan Seshiki and a hook shot from Joie Berhe-Lumax, while Beverly Dover added a jump shot, but the Tigers could not cut into the lead. Parahi added a layup and a 3-pointer, and Mack made a layup late. UC Riverside finished the game with a jump shot by Mejia off a turnover and two free throws from Pateman.

Occidental was led in the early going by Woods, who converted a layup and free throw in the opening minute. Quinn Godfrey also had a productive stretch, scoring on multiple layups in the second and third quarters, and Lexi London hit a 3-pointer and a jump shot in the second quarter. The Tigers remained within striking distance briefly in the first half but could not keep pace once UC Riverside’s defense tightened and the Highlanders began knocking down outside shots. Occidental’s scoring was spread across the roster, but the visitors never found a run long enough to threaten the lead after the first quarter. Occidental’s Quinn Godfrey repeatedly scored inside, and the Tigers had some success on the offensive glass, but UC Riverside’s halfcourt defense limited clean looks.

UC Riverside’s 23 assists reflected the Highlanders’ willingness to share the ball, and their six blocks helped disrupt Occidental around the basket. The Highlanders also overcame 11 turnovers by controlling the glass with 13 offensive rebounds. The victory gave UC Riverside a 1-0 record to begin the season. Occidental, a non-divisional opponent, dropped the road contest. The Highlanders’ depth and balanced scoring allowed them to maintain energy on both ends throughout the second half.

UC Riverside next visits Seattle, then plays road games at Gonzaga, Wichita State and Oregon State. The Highlanders later host Idaho State, La Sierra, UC Irvine, California Baptist and New Mexico State before a road game at Boise State. No point spread, betting line, over-under or game-simulation information was provided. The Highlanders will look to carry the momentum into their next matchup.