MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team was edged by La Sierra University 64-63 in the California Pacific Conference opener on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (1-5, 0-1), who never trailed by more than two points for the final ten minutes and tied the game with 40 seconds to play, had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but came up just short.
Before the Bobcats game-winner attempt, La Sierra broke a 63-63 tie with a made free throw. The Golden Eagles missed the second free throw but a tie up on the rebound gave the Golden Eagles the ball back as the possession arrow was pointing their way. La Sierra was whistled for a travel shortly after inbounding the basketball, giving the Bobcats an opportunity with 25 seconds left.
Despite the loss, Emily Perez led all scorers with 18 points on 55% (5-9) shooting from beyond the arc. Perez also had a 2023 team-high five assists.
Paloma Ramirez scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Niamey Guillory finished with ten points, five rebounds, two steals, two assists, and a block. Four of Guillory's five rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Leilani Blecha connected three times from beyond the arc for a season-high nine points. Imani Johnson recorded eight points and two steals.
Other notables include six rebounds from Nicole Lukito and three assists from Jazzy Beltran.
Early in the game, the Bobcats overcame an early 11-4 deficit and grabbed their first advantage of the night at 15-13 following a Sarina Nagra triple. After La Sierra tied the game, Johson got a bucket to go off the window to give the Bobcats a 17-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Bobcats extended their lead to double figures with the help of a 14-4 run over a four-minutes stretch in the second quarter. Blecha hit two triples, while Faith Mucheru and Perez also hit a three-pointer in the surge that had UC Merced up 31-21. The Bobcats also led by ten points, the games biggest lead, at 33-23. However, La Sierra countered with a run of their own and managed to overcome the double figure deficit and carry a 37-35 lead into halftime.
La Sierra shot 67% (6-9) in the third quarter but the Bobcats forced eleven turnovers to help counteract the Golden Eagles shooting in order stay close over the course of the frame. Towards the end of the quarter, the Bobcats were able to cut a six-point deficit down to two points and it was 54-52 going into the fourth.
A Blecha triple 60 seconds into the fourth quarter put the Bobcats up 55-54. Shortly after, Ramirez knocked down a jumper but La Sierra answered with a three-pointer to pull even at 57-57. A three-minute scoring drought for both teams followed, keeping the game tied inside of four minutes.
UC Merced led 61-59 with three minutes left and then after trailing 63-61, Guillory tied the game with 39 seconds to go. La Sierra scored the only point the rest of the way to pick up their first win of the season and snap Bobcats streak of nine straight Cal Pac opening wins.
UC Merced finished the night shooting a season-best 34% from the floor and the 63 points scored marked the Bobcats second highest scoring output of the early season.
Up next, UC Merced will host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday, December 2 at 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
