VALLEJO, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team slowed down Oregon Tech but ultimately fell 45-36 on Friday afternoon at the Keelhauler Classic.

The Bobcats (6-7) loss was their first of the year while holding opponents to 45 points or less. Head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery's team was 4-0 prior to the setback.

Three players overall shared game-high with ten points, including UC Merced's Cierra McClain who with her efforts extended her double figure scoring streak to a career-best three games.

Haylee Owen pitched in nine points, four rebounds and a steal. Owen's performance was good to pass Aubrey Hayes for sixth in program history with 760 career points.

Rainah Smith, Andrea Rogers and Damilola Sule had four points each. Smith also shared game-high with eight rebounds, five on the offensive glass, and two blocks. Smith has grabbed at least three offensive rebounds in three consecutive games. Deyliana Lewis was the other player with two blocks, marking a season-high.

Andrea Rogers hauled in seven rebounds and notched three steals to extend her multi-steal streak to a career-best four games.

The Bobcats were limited to just five field goals over the first half and their 36 total points throughout the afternoon marked a season low.

Despite the offensive struggles, the Bobcats were within two possessions for the majority of the first half. Oregon Tech did manage to extend their lead to three possessions midway through the second quarter at 14-6 and led 18-11 at intermission.

The Bobcats quickly found themselves down by double figures in the second half but did have a solid stretch towards the end of the third quarter where they cut a 12-point deficit in half and trailed 31-25 after a pair of Sule foul shots.

However, that was as close as the Bobcats would come the rest of the afternoon and they trailed by a game-high 13 points less than 90 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Bobcats also trailed by 13 at 41-28 and 43-30 midway through the frame.

Owen got going offensively to get the deficit under double digits but her field goal with 2:44 showing on the game clock was the last score for either team the rest of the way.

UC Merced finished the game shooting 23% (14-60) from the field, 11% (2-19) from downtown and 43% (6-14) from the charity stripe. All three numbers were season lows.

Oregon Tech was limited to a 38% (17-45) clip from the floor. The Bobcats also held Oregon Tech without a triple. 

Other notables include UC Merced forcing 19 turnovers and outrebounding the opponent 14-6 on the offensive end.

Up next, UC Merced will head south on the 99 for an exhibition match with Fresno State on Saturday, December 18. Tipoff from the Save Mart Center is scheduled for 2:00pm. UC Merced will resume regular season action on New Years Eve at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif.