MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team scored 80+ points for the fourth time this season en route to an 85-68 victory over Bethesda University of California Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (7-3) had five players finish in double figures and were led by junior Mia Belvin (18 points) and seniors Mia Shannon (17) and Deja Jackson (17).
The solid performances from Shannon and Jackson were both season-high's. Saturday's performance also marked Shannon's fifth straight game in double figures, which is tied for the longest streak on the team this season. Along with Shannon, Belvin has scored 10+ points in five straight contests.
The seniors also stuffed the stat sheet as Shannon grabbed a game-high eight boards and blocked a career-high five shots, while Jackson hauled in six boards, delivered five assists and four steals. Jackson's four steals marked a season-high.
Freshmen Rainah Smith and Haylee Owen each tallied 12 points and combined to shoot 60% (9-15) from the floor.
Looking to improve to 6-1 at home this season, the Bobcats took their first lead of the game approximately four minutes after the tip. The bucket to gain the 6-5 lead came via a second chance effort. Shelby Bohlmann grabbed the board and it was Jackson who sunk the first of eight second chance baskets for the home team.
The rest of the first quarter was a game of runs. Tied 10-10, Bethesda went on a 5-0 run in less than a minute to take what would go on to be their largest lead of the night at 15-10.
Belvin stopped the run with a triple and the Bobcats finished the period strong, gaining a 17-15 advantage that never vanished.
A 9-0 run midway through the second quarter put the Bobcats up 33-22. Owen sunk a three-point field goal during the offensive surge and made one more shot from beyond the arc right before halftime to give her team a 39-23 lead.
The Bobcats strong second quarter was highlighted by seven assists on eight made field goals. Defensively, the Bobcats limited the opponent to just 18% (2-11) from the floor and forced Bethesda into seven second quarter turnovers.
Belvin and Smith dominated the third quarter, combining for 16 of the Bobcats 23 points. Smith scored five in a row and Belvin followed Smith with seven straight points of her own to extend the Bobcats lead to a game-high 25 points at 53-28.
Cierra McClain was responsible for UC Merced maintaining the 25 point lead with five points in the final 90 seconds of the quarter.
Bethesda didn't quit, sinking eleven field goals in the fourth quarter and even cut the deficit down to 13 points, 70-57, with 4:32 left on the game clock. Owen made sure it didn't get within single digits as she tallied two assists, a pair of steals and made a field goal all to help the Bobcats get the lead back up 19 points. The freshman finished with a career-high five assists and four steals.
Belvin, Jackson and Owen each scored before the final horn sounded. Bethesda also had three players score in the final two minutes, including two triples to avoid a 20-point loss.
Overall, the Bobcats were solid in multiple areas, including the charity stripe where they made 84% (21-25) of their foul shots. Other notables include 34 points off turnovers and assists on 23 of the Bobcats 29 made baskets.
The 21 free-throws mark the second game in a row, fifth of the year sinking 20 or more foul shots. The Bobcats are 4-1 when doing so.
Up next, the Bobcats host William Jessup University on Tuesday, December 4. Tipoff is slated for 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
