MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team defeated Westcliff University 52-46 on Thursday night to win their sixth consecutive game and become the final undefeated team in California Pacific Conference play.
The Bobcats (10-8, 4-0) 4-0 start in league action is their best start since the 2021-22 season. The same goes for the six-game winning streak.
Nicole Lukito led the way with 15 points and 18 rebounds, marking her eighth consecutive double-double and her 15th of the season. Her 18 rebounds moved her up the program record books, passing Rainah Smith for the second most all-time with 607 career boards. The sophomore is now just three rebounds away from breaking the program's all-time record currently held by Mia Shannon. Lukito also added three steals, two blocks, and two assists in the victory. Helping her reach 15 points, she shot 100% (9-9) at the charity stripe.
Sarina Nagra scored 14 points on 50% (5-10) shooting and picked up a steal.
Elise LeBeau pitched in a season-high eight points and knocked down a three-pointer, while Jazzy Beltran added five points and four rebounds. Paloma Ramirez grabbed eight rebounds and connected on a third quarter buzzer-beating triple.
UC Merced was up against one of the nation's top defenses, a defense that ranked top five in points allowed per game, turnovers forced, and steals per game. UC Merced beat all Westcliff's averages, including committing eight less turnovers than what most opponents record when they play the Warriors.
However, it did take the Bobcats a quarter to find their offensive rhythm. UC Merced was held without a field goal for the first seven minutes before LeBeau cashed in a corner triple to tie the game at 6-6. LeBeau scored again before the end of the quarter and it was tied 9-9 after ten minutes.
UC Merced outscored Westcliff 15-8 in the second frame, including scoring on the first two possessions and opening the frame on a 9-2 run over the first seven minutes. The Bobcats run put them ahead 18-11 and they maintained the seven-point lead at halftime, 24-17. Nagra had six points and an assist in the second quarter.
After a Westcliff bucket, the Bobcats used a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to take a game-high lead of 12 points capped by a Lukito layup, 31-19. A two-minute scoring drought followed for both teams, but then it was a busy final four minutes as the team exchanged buckets. Both teams had spurts in them, the biggest being a 6-0 Westcliff run as the Warriors converted back-to-back three-point plays to bring it back to a two-possession game. The Bobcats owned the final 90 seconds and had a highlight reel ending with Ramirez beating the buzzer with a running three-pointer. The three-pointer put UC Merced up 40-31 going into the fourth.
The Warriors fought back with a 9-0 run over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game. Westcliff scored again three minutes later to take its first lead since the first quarter, while still holding UC Merced without a fourth quarter point. Head coach Kellie Bernard's team then broke its six-minute scoring drought with a Nagra layup and scored on five consecutive possessions, grabbing a 50-46 lead with a minute remaining. Nagra had four points in the crunch time stretch, as did Lukito. Beltran followed with a huge defensive play intercepting a Warrior skip pass, putting the Bobcats in an even better position. One more defensive stop and two Lukito free throws sealed the win.
The Bobcats finished the game shooting 81% (17-21) from the charity stripe overall.
Defensively, the Bobcats held the Warriors to just a .322 field goal percentage and a .143 three-point field goal percentage. UC Merced shot 35% from the floor.
With the win, UC Merced improved to 8-4 all-time against Westcliff, including 4-1 at home.
Up next, UC Merced will host La Sierra University on Saturday, February 1 at 6:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
