Box Score MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's basketball team scored a season-high 84 points and led wire-to-wire in an 84-52 win over Pacific Union College on Tuesday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (4-7, 4-2) biggest margin of victory this season was supported by four double figure scorers and a +10 turnover margin. With the win, the Bobcats remained perfect on their home floor and have now won their first four home games to start the year for the first time in program history.
Damilola Sule led all scorers and tied her career-high with 23 points on 69% (9-13) shooting and an 83% (5-6) mark from the charity stripe. Sule also grabbed 14 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Ten of Sule's 14 rebounds came on the offensive glass. The sophomore also added three assists and two steals.
Deyliana Lewis stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists, five steals, and a block. Her 18 points tied her season-high, while her five steals tied her career-high.
Paloma Ramirez tied her career-high with 17 points to go along with seven rebounds.
Gabby Martini knocked down four of her six triples en route to a career-high 14 points.
Victoria Farris and Faith Mucheru scored five points each. The guard duo also recorded career-high's with eight assists and five rebounds, respectively. Aislyn Dora tallied a career-high five steals.
As a team, UC Merced recorded season-best's of 84 points, a .444 field goal percentage, 23 assists, and 17 steals. Also of note, the Bobcats outrebounded the opponent 43-26 on the glass.
The Bobcats scored the first seven points of the game and outscored Pacific Union College 26-6 overall in a dominant first quarter. With the help of Martini, the Bobcats ended the quarter on a 16-0 run. Martini had eight points and didn't miss a shot in the surge.
Head coach Kellie Bernard's team led by at least 20 points for the entirety of the second quarter. A stellar few minutes midway through the frame saw the Bobcats extend their lead to as many as 35 points at 47-12. UC Merced led 53-21 at halftime. The Bobcats also shot 69% (11-16) from the floor in the quarter, the Bobcats top shooting mark in any ten-minute stretch of the game.
The scoring margin was between 32 and 39 points the rest of the game. The 39-point lead, officially the biggest lead of the afternoon, came after a Sule free throw with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
UC Merced's win was their 15th straight over the opponent and the Bobcats are now 10-0 all-time at home against the Pioneers.
Looking ahead, UC Merced visits Cal Maritime on Wednesday, December 28 in Vallejo, Calif. Tipoff against the Keelhaulers is scheduled for 5:30pm inside the PEAC Main Gym.