MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team used double figure scoring efforts from five different Bobcats to run by Bethesda University of California, 98-55, and improve their season-long winning streak to five games on Monday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Belvin led the Bobcats (11-3, 1-0) with 22 points while shooting 72% (8-11) from the field and 80% (4-5) from beyond the arc. Her 22-point effort marked her fourth game this season scoring at least 20 points.
The Long Beach, Calif., native was also one of three Bobcats to record four steals in the final game before Christmas.
Senior Deja Jackson pitched in 14 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Haylee Owen added 12 points, four steals and four assists.
Rainah Smith (13) and Mia Shannon (10) also had an efficient day on the hardwood.
The Bobcats led for 37 of the game's 40 minutes and led by at least 10 points for 31 minutes.
After trailing 4-0, the Bobcats dialed up a 12-0 run sparked by a pair of triples from Belvin. Shannon scored five of the next seven points for the home team, including her first career triple to boost her team's lead to 19-8.
Owen's first bucket of the night, a three-point field goal with 33 seconds left in the period gave the Bobcats a 24-10 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The 24 points scored in the first quarter marked the Bobcats third straight game scoring at least 24 points in a period.
The Bobcats tacked on five straight points in the first 90 seconds of the second quarter to take their largest lead of the half, 29-10. Jackson had four of those points, while Owen notched a steal and an assist in the stretch.
A 15-6 run from Bethesda nearly cut the Bobcats lead in half at 35-25 but it was followed with eight unanswered points for the Bobcats to carry a 43-25 lead into the locker rooms.
The Bobcats also opened up the third quarter on a run, this time it was a 6-0 run led by Smith.
Smith's first bucket of the half gave the Bobcats a 20 point lead and it would only grow the rest of the afternoon. The scoring margin hit 32 points with three minutes left in the quarter, 36 points (75-39) after Alyssa Ono found the bottom of the net on the period's final possession.
The Bobcats finished the third quarter with 32 points, their most in any ten minute span since November 4 against University of Saint Katherine.
The Bobcats also forced 12 turnovers in the quarter. Eight of the 12 resulted in points at the other end of the floor.
Cierra McClain was responsible for giving her team a 47 point lead, 89-42. The lead came after a McClain triple, three of eight points she had in the final period.
Sato made it a 48 point game shortly after with a make at the charity stripe. The senior finished with nine points and five rebounds.
Kara Kutsuris scored the final basket for the Bobcats to cap off the 98-55 win.
Other notables include a career-high four steals from Shannon, three from Smith and four assists from Aubrey Hayes.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 51% (33-64) from the field, 42% (8-19) from beyond the arc and 85% (24-28) at the foul line.
The 51% mark was the fifth highest in program history. The Bobcats also combined for 20 steals, second highest total in program history.
The Bobcats are now off until they travel to La Verne, Calif., for the University of La Verne Winter Classic December 28-29. The first game down south is scheduled for 4:00pm against the host La Verne Leopards. The Bobcats also play Trinity International University on December 29.
