ASHLAND, Ore. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team saw its season come to an end on Friday night in the NAIA National Championship First Round, falling 86-52 to No. 2 Southern Oregon University inside Lithia Motors Pavilion.
The Bobcats complete their season with a 17-9 record. Southern Oregon extends the nation's longest winning streak to 32 games and advance to the NAIA Second Round to play Wayland Baptist on Saturday.
Nicole Lukito ended her sophomore campaign with her California Pacific Conference record-breaking 22nd double-double of the season. She scored 14 points and hauled in 16 rebounds, passing Cal Maritime's Alicia Porter (2022-23) for the most double-double's in any season in Cal Pac history. Lukito also added six assists, two steals, and a block. She shot 57% (4-7) from the floor and 100% (6-6) at the foul line.
Sarina Nagra tallied 16 points hitting 50% of her shots, while Leilani Blecha pitched in seven points and three steals.
Other notables include six points from Megan Williams and five points and four rebounds from Paloma Ramirez. Ramirez hit a three-pointer to tie Cierra McClain for ninth in program history with 64 career triples.
Morgan Baird led Southern Oregon with 28 points and four assists. Meghan McIntyre had 12 points, eight assists, and five steals.
Southern Oregon was hot from the opening whistle and quickly jumped out to a 12-2 lead. The Raiders led by as many as 14 points in the first quarter before the Bobcats scored the last four points to get back within ten, 22-12 with the help of Elise LeBeau.
Southern Oregon took full control of the game in the second quarter embarking on an 11-0 run to start the frame and outscoring the Bobcats 24-4 overall to build a 30-point lead by halftime. SOU shot 63% in the quarter and forced eight UC Merced turnovers, carrying a 46-16 lead into intermission.
UC Merced scored the first six points out of the break, but SOU followed with an 8-2 burst to get the lead back to 30. The Bobcats fought to get within 25 points by the end of the third quarter, 68-43.
SOU led by at least 29 points for the final eight minutes of the game en route to the 86-52 victory.
The NAIA's only undefeated team shot 50% on the night and 42% from three-point range.
Stay up to date with women's basketball in the offseason by following the team on social media @ucmercedwbb.
