ANGWIN, Calif. – Behind five double-figure scorers and a +33 rebounding advantage, the University of California, Merced women's basketball team rolled past Pacific Union College 96-46 on Thursday night officially clinching a spot in the upcoming California Pacific Conference Championships.
With the victory, the Bobcats (12-8, 6-0) also extended their winning streak to seven in a row. UC Merced returns to the postseason for the first time since 2022-23 and the Bobcats 12 wins overall mark the most under third-year head coach Kellie Bernard. The Bobcats still have four regular-season games remaining.
UC Merced 50-point margin of victory is the biggest in a road game since February 8, 2022, while the +33 rebounding advantage is the biggest since November 29, 2021.
Sarina Nagra led UC Merced's five double-figure scorers with 17 points and doubled her career-high with eight assists. She was also credited with a steal.
Nicole Lukito supplied 16 points and 19 rebounds for her tenth straight double-double. Her double-double also marked the 30th of her career, moving her ahead of Menlo College's Kepua Lee (2004-08) for the third most double-double's in Cal Pac history. Lukito has grabbed 18+ rebounds in three straight outings.
Mariah Flores filled the stat sheet with 13 points, a career-high nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Gabby Martini finished with a season-high 13 points and five rebounds, while Megan Williams nearly matched Martini recording 12 points and five rebounds.
Paloma Ramirez (8pts/5rbs) and Sydney Corder Boyd (7pts/6rbs) turned in similar stat lines. Leilani Blecha was good for six points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Also of note, UC Merced finished the night with a season-high 20 made free throws and committed a season-low eight turnovers. It's the fewest UC Merced turnovers in a Cal Pac game since January 13, 2023. The Bobcats forced 17 PUC turnovers.
After both teams scored in the opening minute, UC Merced surged ahead with a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to create the initial separation. Five Bobcats scored in the run capped by a Blecha field goal to put her team ahead 15-2. Bernard's squad added to the lead over the final minutes of the first quarter and led 26-9 after one. UC Merced shot 60% in the frame led by Lukito's eight points on 3-4 shooting.
UC Merced and PUC traded baskets early in the second quarter before the Bobcats shutout the Pioneers for the final 5:26 of the half. The Bobcats led 32-17 at the time before finishing the quarter with 18 unanswered points, scoring on eight of its nine final possessions. Martini and Williams combined for nine of the unanswered 18. UC Merced held a 50-17 advantage at intermission.
The Bobcats extended their lead immediately out of the break. Then after a quick 8-2 PUC spurt, the Bobcats had another run in them and scored the next 12 points over the next six minutes to make it 66-25. Half of the points were scored at the charity stripe. The Pioneers ended their scoring drought with less than a minute remaining in the period before Flores followed with three more free throws as UC Merced carried a 69-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats kept rolling and scored a game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, including ten from Nagra. She was a big part of an early 9-0 run to stretch the lead to 50 points, 80-30. PUC won the next four minutes, but UC Merced ultimately got its advantage back to 50 points in the closing minute with the help of Boyd to finalize the 96-46 win.
UC Merced ended the night shooting 43% from the field, 21% from downtown, and 83% (20-24) from the free throw line in its 20th consecutive win over PUC.
The Bobcats held PUC to just three free throw attempts.
Up next, the Bobcats will host Cal Maritime on Saturday, February 8. Tipoff inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 2:00pm.
