MERCED, Calif. - Junior Mia Belvin led all scorers with 20 points and the University of California, Merced women's basketball team erased a 13 point deficit to earn a thrilling 74-69 victory Tuesday night over William Jessup University inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Both the Bobcats (8-3) and the Warriors (9-2) entered the game receiving votes in their respective Top-25 Coaches' Poll. The Warriors entered the confines of the Gallo with eight straight wins, where as the Bobcats made sure to defend their home floor and they improved to 15-2 on Hostetler Court since November 27, 2017.
The 13 point deficit occurred with three minutes left in the third quarter, 51-38. Belvin, who was recently named the Cal Pac Player of the Week, started the comeback bid with five straight points. A few possessions later, after Jackson and Sato scored, Belvin sunk one of her two triples to cut the deficit to five at 55-50. Each team would score before the end of the quarter, including point guard Deja Jackson who crossed up her defender and beat the buzzer with a tough layup over the Warriors 6'3" center.
The Bobcats carried that momentum into the fourth quarter and freshman Haylee Owen buried a three-point field goal to tie the score up at 59. Owen's triple was part of a 7-2 run to open up the final period.
The Chula Vista, Calif., product also came through in the clutch two other times before the night came to an end. Trailing 65-61, Owen recorded five straight points to give the Bobcats their first lead of the night at 66-65.
With under 20 seconds remaining and a 71-69 lead, Owen had the ball in her hands with five seconds on the shot clock. Positioned in the corner, Owen made a move to the elbow and drew contact on her jump shot. The shot went in, as did the free throw to extend the lead to 74-69.
William Jessup missed their three-point attempt at the other end of the floor and Aubrey Hayes secured the rebound to help the Bobcats knock off the former Cal Pac opponent for the first time since January 3, 2015.
Early in the game, the Bobcats trailed 13-9 at the end of the first quarter and 39-25 going into the locker rooms.
Aside from Belvin, Jackson and Owen finished in double-figures with 12 points each. Belvin has scored in double figures in six straight games which marks the longest active streak on the roster. Jackson and Owen's solid nights give them their seventh and fourth games of the year respectively contributing ten or more points.
Belvin also grabbed seven boards, hauled in three rebounds and broke the program's all-time steals record in the second half. Belvin's four steals gives her 195 in her career, two more than the last standard.
Jackson added two assists and a steal, while Owen dished out four assists.
Other notables include nine points and seven rebounds from Mia Shannon and seven points and two assists from Rainah Smith. Hayes pitched in seven points and recorded a blocked shot.
As a team, the Bobcats shot 42% (24-57) from the field, 27% (5-18) from beyond the arc and 80% (21-26) at the charity stripe.
Taking a closer look at the free-throws, the Bobcats were 14-15 (93%) in the second half.
The 21 made free-throws marks the fifth time in the last six games in which the Bobcats have sunk at least 20 shots from the foul line.
Up next, the Bobcats head down to Irvine, Calif., for a game against Westcliff University. Tipoff is slated for 3:00pm on Friday, December 7.
