MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team dominated La Sierra University to extend its winning streak to a season-long three games, 64-40 Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (10-9, 4-2) are limiting opponents to just 47.3 points per game during the streak and have not trailed in 120 minutes. The women's basketball program is now 25-0 under head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery when holding teams below 50 points. T
Tonight's 40 points allowed is spectacular, especially considering La Sierra has scored at least 60 points in seven of their last eight games. UC Merced held the Golden Eagles to just 26% shooting from the field and forced 21 turnovers. Of the 21 turnovers, eight were via UC Merced steals. Haylee Owen and Mia Belvin had two steals each.
Belvin also led four Bobcats in double figures with 15 points on 55% (6-11) shooting. Owen filled the stat sheet with 12 points, a game-high five assists and four rebounds, while Rainah Smith neared a double-double with eleven points and nine rebounds. Smith also had three assists.
Deyliana Lewis was good for ten points and a career-high four blocks. Lewis is the first Bobcat with four blocks since the program's all-time blocks leader, Mia Shannon, accomplished that feat on January 17, 2019.
Gabriella Edmond grabbed a career-high eight rebounds, one offensive.
The Bobcats never trailed in the contest and scored 21 points in the first quarter, while La Sierra scored just 18 points in the first half and 22 points combined in the first three quarters.
The Bobcats created the games initial separation within the first seven minutes as Belvin broke a 7-7 tie and sparked a 9-0 UC Merced run. Four different Bobcats scored during the stretch, including Marisse Jackson.
Towards the end of the quarter, Belvin intercepted Dayna Tanaka's pass and scored to give the Bobcats their first double figure lead of the night at 21-10.
The lead shrunk to 21-14 early in the second quarter but after a five-minute scoring drought, the Bobcats doubled the advantage and a Belvin bucket in traffic put UC Merced up 28-14. The Bobcats also led by 14 points at 30-16 and 32-18 (halftime).Tiffany Nguyen had two assists in the quarter.
Despite getting off to a slow start in the third quarter, the Bobcats outscored La Sierra 18-4. It was Owen who got the offense going and a stepback triple sparked a 9-0 UC Merced run. The latter six points of the run came at the charity stripe and the Bobcats led 41-18 with just under three minutes to go in the period. La Sierra ended a seven and a half minute third quarter scoring drought when De'Brianna Hampton grabbed her own miss and went right back up for an easy two. The only other La Sierra points in the period came at the foul line where I'man Conley made a pair of free throws.
Edmond beat the third quarter clock with a three-point field goal, the 15th of her career, to give the Bobcats a 53-22 lead after 30 minutes of action.
The Bobcats have held opponents to just four points in a quarter three times this year, including in two straight games as Cal Maritime managed just four points in the opening frame this past Saturday.
Belvin scored on the Bobcats first possession of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 30, 52-22. Two minutes later, Nia Smiley put the Bobcats up by a game-high 32 points at 56-24.
An 11-0 La Sierra run followed before Nguyen got a tough bucket to fall in the paint. Soon after, back-to-back buckets from Smiley and Cierra McClain had the Bobcats up 62-37 with just over two minutes remaining.
Smith capped off the Bobcats scoring with a pair of conversions at the charity stripe.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 83% (10-12) at the foul line. That number ties the season-high set back on November 15, 2019. It's the highest free throw percentage in a conference game since January 26, 2019.
All ten Bobcats who saw the floor tonight scored and eight of the ten grabbed at least one rebound.
Other Thursday night notables include recording 15 assists and grabbing 14 offensive rebounds. The Bobcats have won nine of their last ten games dating back to last season when assisting on at least 15 buckets.
Up next, the Bobcats host 15th-ranked University of Antelope Valley on Saturday, January 25 at 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium. The two-time defending Cal Pac Tournament champion is the highest ranked opponent to come to Hostetler Court this season. The first 400 fans will receive a free "White Out" T-shirt.
