ANAHEIM, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team dominated Westcliff University from the jump, scoring 31 points in the first quarter and finishing the afternoon off limiting the opponent to single digits in both the third and fourth quarters en route to a 96-44 victory Friday afternoon at the American Sports Center.
The Bobcats (9-3) 50+ point victory was the second of the season, third in the last two years.
Senior Aubrey Hayes headed the efforts to tie the season-long three-game winning streak with a season-high 19 points. Eleven of her 19 came in the first five minutes of the game and before she started scoring, the Ridgecrest, Calif., native assisted on the game's first two baskets.
Her stellar five minutes anchored the Bobcats to a 17-6 lead right out the gates. The advantage was extended to 17 points, 31-14, when the quarter came to a close as Deja Jackson knocked down a triple on the final possession.
The 31 points marked the second most points scored in any quarter this year, one short of the team record of 32 against University of Saint Katherine on November 4.
As a group, the Bobcats made eleven field goals in the quarter and shot 60% (6-10) from downtown.
Freshman Raniah Smith joined Hayes in double figures in the second quarter and a Smith basket three minutes in gave the Bobcats a 45-14 lead. The 31 point lead was the widest margin of the half as Westcliff cut it to 24 before intermission.
Smith and Hayes were two of four Bobcats to notch double figure scoring efforts. Joining the duo were Mia Shannon (13 points) and Alyssa Ono (11 points). Shannon also notched her second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, while Ono's offensive performance marked a career-high.
The Bobcats outscored Westcliff 27-5 in the third quarter to mark the Bobcats best defensive quarter since January 20 of the last year, where they held Pacific Union College to just four points in a period.
Sarah Hopkins-Chery's squad led 81-36 going into the fourth quarter and recorded their first 50 point lead with two and a half minutes to go. A key factor in building the lead to half a century mark was Marisse Jackson, who grabbed eight rebounds and scored four points in the quarter's first seven and a half minutes. She also had a steal and an assist on the play that led to a Kara Kutsuris layup for the 50 point advantage.
M. Jackson and Ono added scores the next two trips down the floor, to finalize the 98-45 victory.
M. Jackson finished with a career-high eight points and ten rebounds in eleven minutes of action. Other notables include Haylee Owen, who stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds and a game-high five assists. Smith had nine rebounds, while Mia Belvin had three steals and D. Jackson had three assists.
Up next, the Bobcats visit Pacific Union College to begin California Pacific Conference play on Saturday, December 15, in Angwin, Calif. Tipoff at the Covered Wagon is slated for 6:30pm.
