MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team held Park University Gilbert to just 23.9% shooting on its way to a 50-40 win on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (9-15, 8-9) 40 points allowed are the fewest in the Kellie Bernard era. The Bobcats also forced 14 turnovers and outrebounded the Bucs 47-34.
Offensively, UC Merced used a solid first quarter to take a 17-6 lead. The lead got trimmed to two points midway through the second frame, but the Bobcats followed with five straight points and remained in front by at least two possessions the rest of the way.
Sarina Nagra led the Bobcats with 16 points, three assists, and three steals. Thursday night marked her second straight double figure scoring effort while also dishing out three assists.
Nicole Lukito tallied ten points, 22 rebounds, and three blocks. Her 22 rebounds are tied for the second highest output in her career, while her double-double was her 12th of the year to become just the eighth player in California Pacific Conference history with at least 12 double-double's in a season.
Paloma Ramirez scored seven points and Jazzy Beltran pitched in six points.
Megan Williams grabbed a UC Merced career-high eleven rebounds.
Other notables include seven rebounds and four assists from Imani Johnson, two blocks from Williams, and two steals from Leilani Blecha.
UC Merced led for the final 38 minutes of the game and took the lead for good when Blecha splashed a triple to break a 4-4 tie. Blecha's three started a 13-2 run over the final eight minutes of the first quarter that had UC Merced up 17-6 after one. The Bobcats held the Bucs scoreless for over five minutes in the dominant stretch. Offensively, UC Merced scored eight of its 13 points during the run from the free throw line.
Park started the second quarter on a 9-0 run before Nagra stopped the Bobcats five-minute scoring drought with a second chance basket. Ramirez followed with a triple and then Nagra cashed in a three-pointer shortly after to put the Bobcats up 25-16 with less than three minutes to go before intermission. The Bobcats didn't allow a Park score the rest of the stanza and Johnson made a free throw to go up 26-16 at halftime.
A Lukito basket 60 seconds into the third quarter pushed the Bobcats lead to a game-high lead 12 points. When the margin was cut in half, Nagra and Williams put together back-to-back buckets to put UC Merced up by double figures once again at 34-24 with six minutes to play in the period. UC Merced led 38-28 with two minutes left and carried a 39-30 advantage into the fourth quarter.
After a scoreless first two and a half minutes for both teams, Beltran got the fourth quarter scoring started with a make from beyond the arc. She hit another three-pointer two possessions later and UC Merced led 45-35 with six minutes remaining. The Bucs countered with a 5-0 run but Nagra matched that by herself to put the Bobcats back up by double digits with three minutes left.
Nagra's three-pointer ended up being the final basket for both teams, resulting in the 50-40 UC Merced victory. Head coach Kellie Bernard's team forced two turnovers and five missed shots in the final few minutes.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 28.8% from the floor, 24% from three-point range, and 82.4% (14-17) from the free throw line.
The Bobcats are now 3-2 all-time against Park.
UC Merced's win was their sixth straight at home dating back to January 18.
With three games left, UC Merced is currently in the eighth spot in the California Pacific Conference standings but sit just one game back of cracking the top six.
Up next, UC Merced will host Benedictine University Mesa on Saturday, February 17 in the final regular season home game. Tipoff is set for 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium in Merced, Calif.
