MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's basketball team staged a fourth-quarter rally, but dropped an 83-73 decision to Chico State on Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (7-16, 4-12 CCAA) trailed 73-47 early in the fourth quarter before scoring 19 unanswered points in a four-minute stretch to cut the deficit to seven points, 73-66 with four more minutes to go. The Bobcats couldn't get any closer.
Paloma Ramirez had 14 of the Bobcats 19 points in the run and finished with a season-high 22 points overall. She hit a career-high six three-pointers, including her 100th career three-point field goal. Ramirez, who shot 60% from deep, also had four rebounds and two steals.
For her career, Ramirez passed Rainah Smith for ninth in program history with 784 career points and passed Leilani Blecha for eighth in program history with 103 career triples. Saturday also marked Ramirez's 98th career game, now tied for fourth in program history with Kayla Polman.
Nicole Lukito delivered 13 points and 14 rebounds for her league-leading eleventh double-double of the season. She also added four assists, two blocks, and a steal. She passed Courtney Danna for ninth in program history with 64 career starts.
Elise LeBeau finished with nine points, a season-high tying five assists, three rebounds, and a steal to extend her steals streak to ten games. She has five assists in back-to-back outings.
Kylie Salzler had nine points and two rebounds, while Mariah Flores pitched in eight points.
Sydney Corder Boyd contributed six points on 100% (3-3) shooting and hauled in three rebounds.
Other notables include three assists from Sarina Nagra and three rebounds from Amanda Torrez.
Chico State opened the game with a 10-4 burst over the first five minutes. The Bobcats followed with five straight points highlighted by a Ramirez triple to pull within a point. Two minutes later, Lukito buried a three-pointer to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 14-12. Chico State regained the lead with a three-pointer of their own before Flores put the Bobcats right back in front at the foul line. UC Merced led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Three lead changes occurred over the first minute of the second quarter, but Chico State created separation with a 16-2 run over the next three minutes to go up 33-20. UC Merced cut the deficit to single digits with 3:40 to go in the first half and got as close as seven on a Lukito bucket. Chico State carried a 37-28 lead into intermission.
Chico State opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to extend its lead to 18 points, 46-28 less then three minutes in. The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions but the Bobcats deficit hit 20 points at the three-minute mark, 59-39. UC Merced's deficit remained 20 points at 65-45 going into the fourth quarter.
Ramirez ignited the Bobcats fourth quarter comeback attempt when the team trailed 73-47 with eight minutes left in the game. She hit back-to-back triples and then got to the foul line on the next possession and sunk both free throws. After a Lukito second chance bucket, Ramirez buried another triple and the Bobcats had cut the once 26-point deficit in half, 73-60 with six minutes still to play. Ramirez hit another three-pointer out of a timeout and then Flores connected from beyond the arc, capping the Bobcats 19-0 run and making it a 73-66 game with 4:31 left. The Bobcats gave themselves a chance, but the run ended there and Chico State led 79-68 inside of three minutes. The Bobcats trailed 81-68 inside of two minutes as Chico State went on to win the game and snap its four-game losing streak.
Chico State finished the game shooting .536, the best any team has shot against the Bobcats this year.
The Bobcats had a tough shooting game prior to the fourth quarter, but did take care of the basketball throughout the day and committed just seven turnovers. The Bobcats seven turnovers were their fewest since November 2, 2023.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play at Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, February 12. Tipoff from Coussoulis Arena is scheduled for 5:30pm in San Bernardino, Calif.
