MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell 18-7 to Santa Clara in the home opener on Sunday afternoon.

The Bobcats (1-4) led 4-1 after the first quarter and held a three-goal lead midway through the second quarter before Santa Clara exploded offensively and controlled the entire second half.

Merced native and freshman Makayla Hemphill led the Bobcats efforts with two goals for her first career multi-goal game.

Amelie Ramirez recorded 12 saves and become the program's all-time saves leader with 224 career saves.

Four different Bobcats scored in the opening quarter for the 4-1 lead. Breyenne Pierce got the Bobcats scoring started just over a minute in. Claudette Asenjo immediately answered a Broncos goal and then Kiryn Wicker and Hemphill each scored shortly after.

Hemphill scored again at the 5:07 mark of the second quarter and then Aislyn Sorsky found the back of the net on the next trip up the field as the Bobcats led 6-3 with four minutes to go in the first half. However, Santa Clara answered with a 4-0 goal scoring run to end the half and take its first lead of the match at 7-6.

Santa Clara outscored the Bobcats 7-0 in the third quarter, including scoring four goals in the first four minutes to gain momentum. The Broncos lead was 14-6 entering the final frame, using a 11-0 run dating back to the second quarter.

The Broncos extended its goal-scoring surge to 14 straight goals, leading 17-6 inside of three minutes. Freshman Anna Potter ended the Bobcats 18-minute scoring drought with 2:24 to go.

Despite the loss, Pierce and Sophia Milton had two assists each for the Bobcats. Grace Tademy had three steals and a field block.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will continue its season against Villanova for the first of four-matches at the Harvard Invite on Saturday, February 28. Opening sprint from Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, Mass., is scheduled for 10:00am PST.