MERCED, Calif. – Nicole Lukito and Quinn Godfrey turned in big-time double-double's to lead the University of California, Merced women's basketball team to a 73-61 win over Fresno Pacific in the 2025-26 season opener on Friday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
With the win, the Bobcats (1-0) have won three straight season openers which ties the longest season-opener winning streak in program history.
Lukito led the Bobcats with 22 points and 21 rebounds for the second 20-20 game of her career and her 36th career double-double overall. The returning NAIA Third Team All-American tied her career-high with eleven made field goals while shooting 57% from the floor. Nine of her 21 rebounds came on the offensive glass. Lukito also added two steals and two assists.
Godfrey tallied career-high's across the board with 17 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. She came off the bench to play 27 minutes on her way to her first career double-double. She shot 50% (7-14) from the floor and eight of her rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Sarina Nagra poured in 14 points on 80% (4-5) shooting from beyond the arc to go along with five rebounds and a steal.
Paloma Ramirez finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Jazzy Beltran recorded six points and five assists, while Kylie Salzler added four points and two rebounds in her collegiate debut. Elise LeBeau added three assists.
UC Merced never trailed on Friday night and jumped out to a 12-2 lead less than five minutes into the game that forced FPU into a timeout. Nagra and Ramirez each hit a three-pointer in the strong start that allowed the Bobcats to lead by at least seven points the rest of the quarter. Lukito had 10 points and nine rebounds in the period.
Early three-pointers from Ramirez and Nagra in the second quarter pushed the Bobcats first half lead up to 13 points. FPU slowly chipped away at the deficit before the Bobcats got their advantage back to double digits with the help of Godfrey late in the half. UC Merced led 42-32 at intermission.
Both teams traded 5-0 spurts to start the second half with the Bobcats scoring five straight first to own a 15-point lead at 47-32. UC Merced led 55-43 inside of three minutes before the Sunbirds put a strong few minutes together to pull within two possessions, 57-51, going into the fourth.
Back-to-back buckets by Godfrey extended the Bobcats lead to ten points 90 seconds in. A Beltran layup made it 67-55 just before the media timeout. Shortly after a FPU bucket, Beltran scored again and the Bobcats led by double figures for the final two and half minutes of the night to seal the victory and snap a six-game losing streak against the Sunbirds dating back to 2017-18.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 39.7% while holding FPU to 30%. The Bobcats outrebounded FPU 53-33 and forced eleven Sunbird turnovers.
Up next, UC Merced will host Dominican on Saturday, November 15 at 2:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
