MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team hung around with top-ranked and defending NAIA National Champion, Westmont College, but ultimately fell 71-55 in the home opener Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

Saturday afternoon's game marked the first ever game inside the Gallo involving a top-ranked team. Previously, tenth-ranked Antelope Valley was the highest ranked team and the Bobcats (1-2) upset them 76-73 on Hostetler Court back on February 14, 2019.

Looking for another home upset, the Bobcats jumped out to a 7-0 lead and although they trailed by double figures at halftime and by as many as 16 points midway through the third quarter, head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery's team fought back in it. The Bobcats came within two possessions and remained within single digits until the final five minutes of the game.

Haylee Owen and Andrea Rogers led the Bobcats with eleven and ten points, respectively. It marked the second straight game the post-guard duo has scored in double figures. Rogers didn't miss in her five field goal attempts and becomes just the third player in program history to accomplish that feat with a minimum of five attempts. Rogers joins the likes of Aubrey Hayes and Haylee Owen.

Rogers also had a team-high four rebounds and two steals, while Owen was one of four Bobcats with two assists.

Marisse Jackson added seven points and blocked a shot. Rainah Smith and Julinna Fletes also blocked a shot to go along with six points.

Westmont was led by returning All-Americans Iyree Jarrett (29 points) and Stefanie Berberabe (19 points/4 steals). Berberabe is the reigning National Player of the Year.

UC Merced was able to get off to their 7-0 start thanks to a triple from Owen and a basket inside by Rogers and Deyliana Lewis. The Bobcats held Westmont without a field goal for the first five and a half minutes and forced three early turnovers. Westmont overcame their slow start with a 14-2 run to take the lead. Madison Hotchkiss hit a buzzer-beating triple to halt the run and it was Westmont on top 14-12 after ten minutes of play.

Fletes opened up the second quarter with a triple, which ended up being the Bobcats final lead of the contest. Westmont followed with a 12-0 run and would outscore the Bobcats 24-9 the rest of the quarter to carry a 38-24 advantage into the locker rooms.

The two teams traded buckets for the first six minutes of the third quarter. Trailing 50-35, Fletes and Jackson highlighted an offensive surge that brought the Bobcats back within two possessions, 52-46. Fletes also had her block in the stretch. 

The Bobcats, who still had Westmont on upset alert and were threatening to snap Westmont's 27-game winning streak against NAIA opponents, trailed 56-49 heading into the final frame.

A field goal from Owen and Rogers along with stellar team defense kept the Bobcats in the game for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. The Bobcats trailed 60-53 with just over five minutes left, however back-to-back Iyree Jarret layups gave Westmont momentum and they rolled with it the rest of the way and ended the game on an 11-2 run.

The Bobcats finished the night shooting 38% (21-56) from the floor, 30% (7-23) from beyond the arc and 43% (6-14) from the charity stripe.

UC Merced held Westmont to a 40% (24-59) clip from the field.

Other notables include 12 assists for the Bobcats and forcing Westmont into 15 turnovers. 

UC Merced snapped a two-game winning streak in home openers.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts William Jessup University on Wednesday, November 3. Tipoff inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 6:00pm.