MERCED, Calif. - After a 28-day layoff, the University of California, Merced women's basketball team returned to the court and beat La Sierra University 59-50 in the California Pacific Conference Opener Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (7-7, 1-0) have now won seven straight Cal Pac openers dating back to 2014, the longest active streak in the league.

Madison Hotchkiss and Deyliana Lewis led the Bobcats offensively with 12 points each. Nine of Hotchkiss's points came from beyond the arc and she has cashed in multiple three-point field goals four times in the last seven games. She has made at least one triple in five straight contests. Lewis shot 83% (5-6) from the floor.

Rainah Smith gave the Bobcats three in double figures and tallied ten points, five rebounds and four assists. Haylee Owen was good for nine points, while Mikayla Mabie finished with six points and dished out a game-high five assists in her first game since November 29. Lewis and Smith each notched three steals.

Damilola Sule (10 rebounds) and Andrea Rogers (9 rebounds) split time at the center position and played a big role in the Bobcats outrebounding La Sierra 39-20 overall. Sule's ten rebounds marked a career-high, five of which came on the offensive end. 

Rogers had two offensive rebounds, including her first on the Bobcats first offensive possession which resulted in a Lewis basket.

A pair of runs followed. La Sierra answered the Bobcats first basket with an 8-2 run to grab what would be their only lead of the game but it was short lived as head coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery's team embarked on a 9-1 run the remainder of the quarter to grab a 13-9 advantage after ten minutes of play. Lewis had five points during the run.

The Bobcats carried momentum into the second quarter and three straight scores put the home team up 20-9 less than 90 seconds in. The Bobcats also led by eleven points at 26-15 before seeing their lead shrink to five at intermission, 26-21.

Both teams traded baskets through the early stages of the third quarter. La Sierra managed to close the gap to a possession, but Hotchkiss had an answer and buried her second triple of the night. However, the shot from downtown would be the Bobcats final field goal of the quarter and they found themselves tied 35-35 in the final seconds leading up to the fourth. Marisse Jackson was sure to put the Bobcats back on top, grabbing an offensive rebound right before the buzzer and converting at the foul line after drawing a foul.

Entering the game, the Bobcats had won 13 straight games against La Sierra and the most dominant quarter of the night extended the streak to 14.

The Bobcats started the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run spanning the first five minutes and 13 seconds. At the peak of the run, the Bobcats 49-35 lead was their largest of the night. Five Bobcats scored in the surge, led by Hotchkiss' five points. It was plenty for the Bobcats to earn the victory and they finished with a 59-50 win.

The Bobcats finished the night shooting 44% (23-52) from the field, 21% (4-19) from beyond the arc and 47% (9-19) from the charity stripe.

UC Merced's 14-game winning streak against La Sierra is their longest streak against any opponent in program history.

Saturday night also marked the 15th win all-time against La Sierra, tied for the most wins against any opponent. The Bobcats have also beat Pacific Union College 15 times.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats host University of Antelope Valley on Monday, January 17 at 5:30pm. Spectators will not be permitted. The livestream is available here.