MERCED, Calif. – Damilola Sule registered the top double-double in program history and Paloma Ramirez went for a career-high 24 points, but it wasn't enough as the University of California, Merced women's basketball team fell 68-67 to University of Antelope Valley on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

In a game that saw both teams lead by at least eight points in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats (5-8, 5-3) trailed 65-57 with two minutes to go before ending the game on a 10-3 run and a chance to win it at the buzzer. The Bobcats comeback attempt was fueled by a pair of steals on UAV inbound passes.

Sule finished with 21 points and a UC Merced record 24 rebounds in the setback. Her 24 rebounds were eight more than the previous record of 16 rebounds that was originally set in 2013 by Kayla Polman. Since then, Sule tied that original record on two occasions. Of Sule's record 24 rebounds on Thursday night, nine of them came on the offensive glass. Her rebounding effort was also a top five total in Cal Pac history and just two short of the all-time single-game rebounding record. Offensively, Sule's 20+ point outing was her second straight and she finished the night shooting 63% (7-11) from the floor. In her ninth double-double of the season, Sule also made seven foul shots and recorded two steals.

Ramirez's career-high of 24 points came while shooting a season-high 58% (7-12) from the field, a season-high 60% (3-5) from three-point land, and 70% (7-10) from the charity stripe. The freshman scored 20 of 24 points in the second half, including five in the final 90 seconds to help spark the Bobcats comeback efforts. Ramirez also grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists in her first ever contest against UAV.

Victoria Farris tallied seven points and two assists, while Deyliana Lewis and Tiffany Nguyen scored six points each. Lewis added five assists, two blocks, and two steals. Aislyn Dora was credited with two assists.

Farris got the game started with a corner jumper and a Nguyen three-pointer shortly after allowed the Bobcats to hold an advantage for the first 15 minutes of the game. The Bobcats led by as many as eight points as soon as the 13-5 mark and held a 19-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

However, the Bobcats were limited to just one field goal in the first eight minutes of the second quarter and UAV was able to turn that into their first lead of the game at 24-22. The Bobcats retook the lead behind a Ramirez jumper at 29-26 before the two teams went into intermission tied at 29.

The two teams traded buckets in the third quarter, but the Bobcats controlled the frame overall. Head coach Kellie Bernard's squad never trailed by more than two points in the quarter, but instead led by five points on occasion. Up 47-42 with ten seconds left, Ramirez got behind a Lewis screen on the wing and drained a three-pointer to put the Bobcats on top 50-42 heading to the fourth.

UC Merced's biggest lead of the game was nine points, 53-44 in the opening minute of the final quarter. UAV countered that with an 11-0 run that eventually turned into a 21-4 run to put the Pioneers up by eight points with 2:42 remaining in the game. UC Merced worked a comeback but fell just short.

Ramirez scored the Bobcats first five points in the comeback attempt, cutting the deficit to one possession with a minute left. After each team got a bucket, it was 67-64 with 30 seconds to play. Down 68-67 with eight seconds left, Dora broke up UAV's inbounds pass and it fell into the hands of Ramirez. Ramirez called a timeout, giving the Bobcats the opportunity at the game-winner with 5.1 ticks remaining. UC Merced came up empty on their buzzer beater attempt.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 44% (20-45) from the floor, 35% (6-17) from downtown, and 60% (21-35) from the foul line. The Bobcats 44% shooting mark tied their season-high. The 21 free throws also tied the team's season-high.

Also of note, the Bobcats outrebounded UAV 38-31.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts La Sierra University on Saturday, January 7 at 6:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.