MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team overcame a 15-point second half deficit to beat San Francisco State 63-58 on Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (5-12, 2-8) comeback win was their biggest since January 18, 2018 against Simpson.
On Saturday, UC Merced trailed 46-31 just 30 seconds into the third quarter and outscored the Gators 16-2 the rest of the frame to cut the deficit to a point. Sarina Nagra scored to start the fourth quarter, giving the Bobcats their first lead since the early minutes of the game. UC Merced's biggest deficit at any point in the game was 16 points at 41-25 a few minutes before halftime.
Nagra led the Bobcats comeback effort with eight of the Bobcats 18 points in the 18-2 explosion. She finished with 16 second-half points and a game-high 18 points overall on 61% (8-13) shooting. She hit a pair of three-pointers and passed Haylee Owen for fifth all-time in program history with 116 career triples. Nagra also added four rebounds and three assists.
Nicole Lukito posted her third straight double-double with 12 points and eleven rebounds. She shot 100% (8-8) at the foul line, marking just the ninth time in program history a Bobcat had at least eight makes without a miss from the charity stripe. Lukito owns three of those instances. The junior also had a season-high four blocks and a steal that added to her eighth double-double of the season and 43rd of her career.
Mariah Flores pitched in eleven points to score in double figures for a career-best four consecutive games. She supported her scoring effort with four rebounds and a steal.
Elise LeBeau tallied a season-high tying eight points to go along with three assists and three rebounds.
Paloma Ramirez finished with seven points, seven rebounds, and a career-high three blocks. Kylie Salzler hit a three-pointer off the bench.
There were three early lead changes in the game and no team led by more than three possessions until SF State used a 10-0 run over the final two minutes of the first quarter to hold a 27-17 advantage.
The Bobcats were held to just two field goals in the entire second quarter and fell behind by as many as 16 points, 39-23, with 4:00 to play in the period. Despite going cold from the field, head coach Kellie Bernard's team was able to stay in the game by hitting eight free throws in the final four minutes of the half. The Bobcats trailed 43-31 at intermission.
After SF State cashed in a three-pointer to start the third quarter, it was all Bobcats the rest of the frame. UC Merced started its comeback with buckets on three straight possessions, immediately cutting the deficit in half starting with a Nagra triple. The score remained 46-38 for nearly the next six minutes, from the 7:59 mark to the 2:06 mark, before SF State stopped the scoring drought to push their back to double digits at 48-38.
The final two minutes of the third quarter was key for the Bobcats as they closed the quarter on a 9-0 run with field goals from four different players, including Sydney Corder Boyd to make it a 48-47 game.
Nagra scored to open the fourth quarter, giving the Bobcats their fifth unanswered field goal and their first lead since the opening three minutes. Nagra's field goal to take the lead capped the Bobcats extended 18-2 run, officially eliminating the once 15-point second half deficit. SF State took the lead back with a 5-0 spurt, but Nagra led a 6-0 Bobcats response to put her team back up 57-55 with 3:30 to go.
Lead changes followed, including Nagra putting the Bobcats up 59-58 with a bucket through contact with 90 seconds left. The Bobcats got three straight defensive stops from there and Lukito hit all four of her free throw attempts to secure the Bobcats 63-58 win.
The three straight stops and success at the free throw line was one of the story lines of the game. UC Merced finished the game going 100% (14-14) from the free throw line. It marked the first time in program history without a miss with a minimum of ten attempts.
Defensively, UC Merced held San Francisco State to just 31.3% shooting from the field which is the Bobcats lowest opponents field goal percentage since the season opener.
UC Merced shot 42.3% from the field.
Overall, the Bobcats double-figure comeback win was their third of the season. The Bobcats overcame a 15-point first half deficit to beat Hawai'i Pacific, a 13-point first half deficit to beat Chaminade, and the 15-point second half deficit to beat San Francisco State.
Up next, UC Merced will host Stanislaus State on Thursday, January 22 at 5:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
