MERCED, Calif. - For the second straight game, the University of California, Merced women's basketball team made the eventual game-winning shot at the free throw line.
Tonight, it was freshman Rainah Smith toeing the charity stripe with 0.5 seconds left in a 71-71 contest. Smith, who was fouled on a putback attempt with the horn ready to blow, sunk both foul shots and the Bobcats stopped one last Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (AZ) miracle attempt to win a 73-71 thriller inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The win marked the (RV) Bobcats (14-3, 2-0) eighth straight, a new program record. The eight-game winning streak began back on December 1, 2018, in a 17 point win over Bethesda University of California.
Three Bobcats registered double figure scoring efforts Thursday night, including a 20 point, 10 rebound double-double from senior center Mia Shannon. Shannon also recorded three blocks and is now two blocks away from the century mark in her career.
Mia Belvin finished with 18 points and three steals, while Smith notched 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Smith also totaled four steals for the second straight Cal Pac game.
The Bobcats outscored Embry-Riddle in the first and fourth quarters in a rematch of last year's California Pacific Conference Semifinal match.
A 5-0 run to start the game, combined with a 13-5 run in the last five minutes of the period helped the Bobcats close out the first quarter with a 20-14 lead. Five different Bobcats scored in the quarter and it was Shannon who anchored the offense with eight points.
Defensively, the Bobcats limited the Eagles to just 20% (4-20) from the field in the quarter.
However in the second, the Eagles made three straight shots to tie the game up at 20. Three minutes later, the visitors jumped out in front for what ended up being the rest of the quarter. The Eagles biggest lead was ten points at 33-23, a deficit that the Bobcats have now come back from in two straight games.
The comeback started to occur instantly after the double figure deficit. Cierra McClain cashed in a free throw, while Smith closed the quarter out with five straight points to cut the deficit to 33-29 going into the half.
A back and fourth third quarter was highlighted once again by Shannon, who had a stat line of nine points, three rebounds, a block and a steal in just those ten minutes alone. Smith also hit the boards hard in the quarter, recording three of her game-high six offensive rebounds. Thursday night marked her fourth straight game recording five or more offensive rebounds and she has grabbed at least one offensive board in all 17 games of her freshman campaign.
Trailing 55-51 entering the final ten minutes of play, head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery sent her starting five back out on the floor and a 6-0 run put the Bobcats on top for the first time since early in the second quarter. All three buckets during the run were points off turnovers or second chance points.
The game was tied 57-57 with 7:29 left, but the Bobcats trailed 65-60 with 5:02 showing on the clock. Hayes changed that with a pair of makes from the foul line and a triple to extend her three-point field goal streak to six conference games dating back to last season.
Following Hayes's triple, there were four lead changes before the end of the game. Three of them came in the final two minutes, including lead changes courtesy of Shannon and Smith.
Shannon's bucket broke a 69-69 tie with 72 seconds left to put the Bobcats on top 71-69. Neither team scored in the next minute, but both teams did in the final ten seconds. Both scores came from the charity stripe.
The Eagles' Jenna Knudson drew a foul and fought through a raucous UC Merced crowd to sink both free throws and tie the game at 71.
Since the Eagles tied the game, they didn't need to foul meaning the Bobcats could run a play with 7 seconds left. They did and although the shot didn't go through the net, Smith grabbed the rebound and was fouled which set her up for the game-winning free throws.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 80% (25-31) from the charity stripe. Seven different Bobcats made at least one free throw, while each starter made multiple. Mia Shannon made a career-high eight free throws on ten attempts.
Other notables include nine points and five rebounds from Hayes. McClain tallied seven points and four rebounds in her first career start at the point guard position.
Up next, the Bobcats welcome Benedictine University at Mesa for Community Night on Saturday. The game, presented by Merced Mall, is slated for 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
