REDDING, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team took the court for their first game in 601 days on Friday night but fell to Eastern Oregon University, 88-70 at the Simpson Classic inside the James M. Grant Center.

Despite the season opening loss, Haylee Owen shared game-high with 17 points and four Bobcats (0-1) finished with double figures. Last season (2019-20), the Bobcats only had four in double figures twice in their 28 games.

Owen has now scored at least 15 points in 19 career contests. She also grabbed five rebounds for her ninth career 15+ point, 5+ rebound affair. The Chula Vista, Calif., native became the eighth player in program history to eclipse 600 career points.

Julinna Fletes impressed and made history as she became the first ever Bobcat with a double-double in her collegiate debut. Fletes finished with 14 points and eleven rebounds while shooting 60% (6-10) from the floor and 50% (2-4) from beyond the arc. Six of Fletes' eleven rebounds came on the offensive end.

Two other players made their Bobcat debut on Friday night, including transfer Mikayla Mabie who tallied 14 points and was one of four Bobcats with a steal.

Rainah Smith was the fourth Bobcat in double figures, finishing with eleven points and was second on the team with six rebounds. 

Other individual notables include six points from Deyliana Lewis and a steal each from Lewis, Mabie and Victoria Farris.

The game was a tale of two halves as the Bobcats were outscored by 22 at intermission before finding their groove and winning the second half behind a 30-point third quarter. The 30-point frame was the Bobcats highest since scoring 35 at BenU Mesa on January 30, 2019.

Head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery's team put together one of their highest scoring quarters behind the guard trio of Owen, Fletes and Mabie. The three combined for 23 points and shot 75% from the floor. More impressive, all 30 of the Bobcats points in the frame came in the final six and a half minutes off of 12 consecutive made shots. Four of the Bobcats 12 makes came from downtown and with the offensive success the Bobcats were able to cut a 29-point deficit down to 15.

However, 15 points was as close as the Bobcats would come the rest of the way. The margin was primarily between 18 and 21 points the entire fourth quarter. 

The Bobcats have dropped two straight season openers.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 39% (28-72) from the floor, 23% (6-26) from downtown and 67% (8-12) from the charity stripe.

Eastern Oregon was led by Sailor Liefke's 17-point, eleven-rebound double-double.

Parker Fromm made her collegiate debut for UC Merced.

The two teams had never met prior to Friday night.

UC Merced will now take on first-time opponent Northwest Indian College to wrap up the Simpson Classic before returning to Merced for their season opener.