MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team was edged by La Sierra University 72-71 on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (5-9, 5-4) led for the majority of the game but couldn't survive an 18-4 La Sierra run in the game's final minute to hold onto victory. La Sierra scored a go-ahead layup with 1.8 seconds to go, and the Bobcats came up empty from the wing at the buzzer.

Deyliana Lewis led the Bobcats with a career-high 23 points on 53% (8-15) shooting. The senior also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Lewis' double-double marked her fourth of the season.

Paloma Ramirez scored 13 points, in part due to connecting on three shots from beyond the arc, and hauled in six rebounds for her fourth consecutive 10+ point/5+ rebound performance.

Victoria Farris and Damilola Sule each finished with ten points. The two also grabbed seven and five rebounds, respectively.

Other notables include five points each from Gabby Martini and Faith Mucheru, four rebounds from Nia Smiley, and two steals from Aislyn Dora.

Despite the loss, the Bobcats outrebounded La Sierra 38-28 and forced 22 Golden Eagle turnovers. The Bobcats also made at least 20 free throws for the second straight game.

Head coach Kellie Bernard's team scored the game's first ten points while holding La Sierra scoreless for the first four and a half minutes. Martini splashed a triple in the stretch. However, La Sierra took over the next five minutes and managed to grab a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams were scoreless for the first two minutes of the second quarter before Lewis cashed in two free throws which put the Bobcats back on top. Lewis scored six more points in the next two minutes to put the Bobcats on top 26-19 midway through the period.

Up 32-27 at halftime, the Bobcats remained in front for the first eight minutes of the third quarter. Tied 38-38, Mucheru broke the tie with a triple giving the Bobcats the lead right back heading into the final ten minutes.

The Bobcats carried momentum into the fourth quarter and 12-5 run put UC Merced ahead by double figures with 5:45 to play. The Bobcats lead was between seven and 13 points leading up to the closing minute before La Sierra caught fire and scored on their first five possessions in the last 60 seconds and six of their final seven overall. La Sierra hit four straight three-pointers in the stretch to close the gap before ultimately winning it off a breakaway layup following a turnover.

Up next, UC Merced travels to Redding, Calif., to take on Simpson University on Saturday, January 14th, at 5:30pm inside the James M. Grant Center.