MERCED, Calif. – Emily Perez scored a career-high 24 points but it wasn't enough as the University of California, Merced women's basketball team lost 69-59 to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Perez is the Bobcats (1-6, 0-2) first 20-point scorer since February 2, 2023. The junior also tallied six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
She converted a three-point play to put the Bobcats up 59-56 with three minutes left, however the Bobcats were outscored 13-0 the rest of the way in the loss.
Paloma Ramirez added ten points and six rebounds for UC Merced.
Imani Johnson had seven points and eight rebounds, while Megan Williams returned from an injury to provide six points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Both Johnson's and Williams' rebounding totals marked season-high's. Nicole Lukito grabbed five rebounds and blocked a shot.
The Bobcats fell behind 11-4 early on but responded by holding Embry-Riddle without a field goal for the final five and a half minutes of the first quarter and used a 10-4 run to pull within a point.
Head coach Kellie Bernard's team fell back behind by two possessions 90 seconds into the second period. Trailing 26-22 midway through the frame, Ramirez knocked down a three-pointer to make it a one-point game. However, the Bobcats couldn't jump in front and ended up trailing 38-32 at intermission.
Out of the break, an 8-2 run highlighted by two Perez three-pointers tied the game at 40. Then tied at 45 midway through the third quarter, Ramirez scored off a Jazzy Beltran assist to give the Bobcats their first lead since the 2-0 mark. Johnson followed with two makes at the foul line to go up 49-45 and Ramirez extended the lead to six points with a bucket inside.
UC Merced led 51-49 at the end of the third and remained on top through the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. ERAU tied the game on a few occasions after that, and then Perez broke a 56-56 tie with a three-point play to put the Bobcats up by three with three minutes left.
Embry-Riddle scored on the next trip down the floor with an offensive rebound and then after a 90-second scoring drought by both teams, the Eagles took a 60-59 lead with just over a minute to go. The Eagles added to their lead the rest of the way and forced two Bobcat turnovers resulting in a 69-59 win.
The Bobcats had 22 turnovers overall. Despite the loss, the Bobcats outrebounded Embry-Riddle 41-31, 11-5 on the offensive glass.
Up next, UC Merced will start a four-game road trip at Cal Maritime on Wednesday, December 6. Tip-off from the PEAC Main Gym in Vallejo, Calif., is scheduled for 5:30pm.
