Box Score MESA, Ariz. – The fifth-seeded University of California, Merced women's basketball team came close to pulling off a late double figure comeback, but ultimately fell 47-45 to fourth-seeded Westcliff University on Saturday afternoon in the California Pacific Conference Championship Opening Round at Bell Bank Park.
The Bobcats (11-15) trailed by 13 points with five minutes left before going on a 12-0 run to pull within a point at 44-43 with 14 seconds to play. The Bobcats came up just short of forcing overtime on their next possession, and then Westcliff finished the game at the free throw line. Gabby Martini highlighted the Bobcats final push with a pair of three-pointers. Damilola Sule scored the bucket to cut the deficit to a point. Aislyn Dora also scored in the surge that fell short by two points.
Prior to Westcliff taking their double figure lead, the majority of the game saw the two teams separated by two possessions or less.
Sule, named the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year, led UC Merced with 12 points and tied her own Cal Pac single-game rebounding with 27 rebounds in the tournament game. Saturday marked her third time grabbing 27 boards, but the first time in a postseason game setting a new Cal Pac Championship record. Also of note, Sule became the first Bobcat with a Cal Pac Championship double-double since Mia Shannon accomplished the feat in 2018. Sule finishes the campaign with ten consecutive double-doubles and 19 10+-point & 10+ rebound games overall.
Deyliana Lewis neared a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. The All-Cal Pac First Team selection also had three assists and blocked two shots.
Lewis and Sule became fifth and sixth players in program history to eclipse 350 points in a single-season.
Martini scored six points on 50% (2-4) shooting from beyond the arc, while Tiffany Nguyen and Cal Pac Freshman of the Year Paloma Ramirez scored five points each. Nguyen also had four assists. Victoria Farris knocked down a three-point field goal.
The first quarter saw both teams go on a run and both teams have a four-minute scoring drought. The Bobcats struck first with an 8-2 run to start the game, but then Westcliff followed with a 7-0 run and it was the Warriors who held a 9-8 lead after one quarter of play. UC Merced never regained the lead the rest of the way.
The game was tied 15-15 early in the second quarter before another Westcliff run, however this time it was 9-0 run that stretched just south of five minutes.
Head coach Kellie Bernard's team managed to cut the deficit down to four points before intermission and remained within eight points for the entirety of the third quarter. A Nia Smiley basket just before the third quarter buzzer made it a two-possession game at 33-27 heading to the final frame.
A fourth quarter of runs saw Westcliff start with an 11-4 surge, capped off by a Polina Kovaleva triple to put her team ahead 44-31 with five minutes remaining. Westcliff's run ended there, and it was Martini to start the Bobcats 12-0 run with a three-pointer of her own. A second Martini triple made it 44-39 with three minutes to go. Dora cut the deficit to 44-41 with two minutes remaining and then after a scoreless 90 seconds from both sides, Sule cut the margin to a point with the shot clock off.
With the Bobcats needing to foul or force a turnover, Westcliff's Trinity Vasquez was sent to the charity stripe and hit two foul shots. Still a one-possession game, Nguyen earned a three-point foul with 2.2 seconds left and sunk her first two free throws. Westcliff rebounded the third foul shot, split their free throws on the other end of the floor, ultimately leaving little to no time left for UC Merced.
Westcliff advances to Monday night's California Pacific Conference Semifinal game against top-seeded University of Antelope Valley.
Head coach Kellie Bernard's team outrebounded Westcliff 49-34 in the loss. The Bobcats also forced ten turnovers.
Stay tuned to ucmercedbobcats.com and follow the team on social media @ucmercedwbb on Twitter and Instagram for all offseason news.
