Second-half surge highlight final game of season-long homestand

VALLEJO, Calif. – Even though UC Merced jumped out to a 26-9 lead after the first quarter of play in Wednesday's Cal Pac home game against UC Merced, women's basketball showed its grit and determination as the evening progressed and outscored the Bobcats, 19-12 in the third and 19-16 in the fourth quarters to generate momentum it will now take on the road since the team's next seven games will take place outside of PEAC Main Gym.

Even though the Keelhaulers outscored the Bobcats in the second half, that first quarter advantage because ultimately too large to erase in a game UC Merced won by a 76-54 result.

"Tonight's game was a tale of two halves," said head coach Imhotet Amen-Ra. "In the first half, we struggled a bit ... but to flip the script in the second half and outscore the Bobcats by 10 showed our grit and what we can accomplish when we turn up our defensive pressure and limit our turnovers."

Alicia Porter notched her third double-double of the season and second in the last three games by finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds, both team highs. Dylan Fulton came off the bench and recorded eight points and four boards through her 21 minutes of action and Kai Kraus ended the game with a season-high five rebounds. 

"I am proud of how everyone decided to fight and lock in because it would have been easy not to after giving up 48 points in the first half. But we changed the game after halftime, experienced incremental growth and improved as a team today."

Cal Maritime will head to Simpson on Friday and Jessup on Tuesday — both games tip at 5:30 p.m. — before experiencing a week-long hiatus due to finals. Following a December 20 exhibition at Pacific, the Keelhaulers will return to Cal Pac play at Embry-Riddle (Jan. 4), La Sierra (Jan. 6) and Pacific Union (Jan. 9).

Due to U.S. Coast Guard exams taking place inside PEAC Main Gym, the team's January 11 contest vs. Antelope Valley will take place at PUC with the Keelhaulers as the designated home team.

A lengthy home hiatus will end on January 18 when Benedictine Mesa visits campus in the first of a three-game homestand.