MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team fell to No. 12 Southern Oregon University, 72-49, Monday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (3-2) setback was their first home loss of the season and just their second in the last nine home games dating back to last season.
Senior Aubrey Hayes led all scorers with 15 points, including nine from beyond the arc. Her three triples marks her 18th career game sinking at least three three-point field goals and she is now eight triples away from moving into third place on the Bobcats all-time list.
Aside from Hayes, freshman Rainah Smith pitched in a solid performance with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists. The San Francisco, Calif., native also had two of the Bobcats three steals.
Mia Belvin accounted for nine points and grabbed six rebounds, while Jackson hauled in six boards, three offensive, and dished out a team-high four assists.
The Bobcats trailed the entire night but made multiple runs in the first three quarters to stay in the game. The Bobcats biggest deficit in the first half was eleven points two minutes into the second quarter. By half, the Bobcats deficit was cut to six.
Out of the break, Rainah Smith brought the Bobcats within four via one of her three field goals on the night. It was a three-point game midway through the third quarter, however Southern Oregon outscored the Bobcats 15-8 the remainder of the period to rebuild their double figure lead that never vanished.
The Bobcats failed to score for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and by the time the Bobcats put one through the cylinder, Southern Oregon had extended their lead to 21 points at 62-41. The closest the game got from that point on was 16 points via a fastbreak bucket from Haylee Owen.
The biggest differences in the game were the team's field goal percentages. Southern Oregon shot 42% from the floor, while UC Merced shot 29%. On the boards, Southern Oregon hauled in 50 rebounds, 20 offensive.
Up next, the Bobcats host Westcliff University on Saturday, November 17, at 3:00pm.
