MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team scored a season-high 99 points and Nicole Lukito registered a monster double-double in a 99-65 victory over Pacific Union College on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (6-12, 5-6) third consecutive win also marked the teams biggest margin of victory in a game this season.
Lukito tallied career-high's of 27 points and 26 rebounds in her fifth consecutive double-double. She also had four assists and three steals, becoming the first Bobcat in program history with a stat line of her kind. Her 26 rebounds are the second most in a single-game by any Bobcat. Ten of her offensive rebounds came on the offensive glass. Lukito, who played 38 minutes, finished the night shooting 56% (10-18) from the floor and 100% (6-6) from the charity stripe. The freshman and reigning California Pacific Conference Player of the Week also knocked down her lone three-point attempt.
With Lukito's help, the Bobcats grabbed a season-high 54 rebounds as a team and outrebounded PUC 54-23, 24-3 on the offensive boards.
Megan Williams poured in a season-high 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked a shot.
Jazzy Beltran scored ten points with two three-pointers, while Sarina Nagra added nine points and two steals. Faith Mucheru and Niamey Guillory pitched in eight points each.
Other individual notables include five rebounds and three assists from Paloma Ramirez, three steals from Imani Johnson, two steals from Leilani Blecha, and a block from Gabby Martini. Chanel Polk recorded her first collegiate basket.
UC Merced scored the first eight points of the game and opened the night on an 18-2 run overall over the first seven minutes. The Bobcats best stretch in the surge saw them score on five consecutive possessions, including a steal and score from Blecha. Head coach Kellie Bernard's team extended the lead to 20 points and led 24-4 at the end of the opening period. The Bobcats outrebounded PUC 14-3 and forced eight turnovers in their most dominant quarter of the night.
UC Merced held a 30-10 advantage early in second frame and then scored ten unanswered points over a two-minute stretch to go up by as many as 30 points with five minutes to play before intermission. Nagra had five of the Bobcats ten points, including a three-pointer. Later on, Lukito drilled a triple to put the Bobcats up 47-14 and then she grabbed and offensive rebound on the next possession and put it right back in to give her team what would be a first-half high lead of 35 points, 49-14 inside of 90 seconds before intermission. Lukito had 17 points and 15 rebounds in a 49-17 halftime lead.
Both teams posted their highest scoring frame in the third quarter as the Bobcats outscored PUC 30-26 over the ten minutes. With the two teams trading buckets, UC Merced's lead was between 29 and 37 points throughout and the lead was at least 30 points for the final three and a half minutes with the Bobcats carrying a 79-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
UC Merced extended their advantage to a game-high 41 points following a Mucheru triple to go up 86-45. The Bobcats also led by 41 at 93-52 with four minutes left.
UC Merced's 99 points came while shooting 46.1% from the field. The Bobcats 99 points are the most since February 15, 2022, and the field goal percentage marked the second highest of the campaign. UC Merced also shot a season-high 84.6% (11-13) from the charity stripe.
The Bobcats have now won 18 consecutive games against PUC and improve to 21-1 all-time against the opponent.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Cal Maritime on Saturday, January 27 to wrap up its longest homestand of the season. Tipoff from Hostetler Court inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 5:30pm.
