MERCED, Calif. — Playing in their first-ever meeting Thursday evening at Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center, Cal State East Bay rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and capped the comeback with a go-ahead basket in the final seconds to edge UC Merced 90-89. Taylor Eldredge's turnaround jumper from the top of the key with 13 seconds remaining proved to be the deciding play as the Pioneers snapped a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion.
Cal State East Bay kept the opening frame within reach but never led in the first quarter. UC Merced built a lead of as many as seven, using efficient early shooting to control the tempo. East Bay answered with steady interior scoring, and Lucca Lowenberg's layup with 16 seconds left trimmed the margin to four as the Bobcats held a 28-24 advantage heading into the second.
The Pioneers briefly moved in front early in the second quarter. Sierra Morris converted a layup at the 8:14 mark to give East Bay its first lead at 32-30. The game stayed tight through the middle of the period before UC Merced closed the half with a surge, stringing together stops and transition baskets to open up an 11-point cushion. The Bobcats carried a 56-45 lead into halftime.
UC Merced maintained control coming out of the break, holding a steady double-digit advantage throughout the third quarter. East Bay continued to battle on the offensive end, and Meredith Gilbertson capped the frame with a layup in the final 30 seconds, but the Bobcats still led 75-63 entering the fourth.
Down 80-65 with just under seven minutes left, the Pioneers ignited one of their most memorable runs of the season. Aloha Akaka's driving layup jump-started the rally, which gained momentum quickly. Eldredge followed with a steal and finish, then Hailey Estrada knocked down a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to eight in just 19 seconds. After a UC Merced jumper briefly pushed the lead back to 10, East Bay continued to press. Eldredge repeatedly found openings against the defense, accounting for nine of the Pioneers' next 16 points during a 16-7 stretch that brought the score to 89-88 with 45 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout and a turnover, East Bay set up one last offensive possession with 21 seconds to play. Akaka delivered the ball to Eldredge at the top of the key, where Eldredge spun into space and hit a turnaround jumper to put Cal State East Bay on top, 90-89, with 13 seconds left. UC Merced had a final look, but a 3-pointer missed, sealing the comeback win.
Akaka led East Bay with 22 points, her highest total as a Pioneer, shooting 8-for-14 from the field with three 3-pointers and three free throws. Eldredge added a season-high 21 points and came up with five steals, including several during the decisive fourth-quarter run. Lowenberg finished with 13 points, while Estrada scored 11 points and dished out seven assists. Gilbertson paced the team on the glass with eight rebounds.
UC Merced held a 36-33 rebounding edge, but East Bay shot 53.0 percent from the field compared to the Bobcats' 47.1 percent.
The 90 points marked the most scored by Cal State East Bay since the 2023-24 season finale.
"I'm really proud of the way our team came back after we struggled to make plays for 3½ quarters," head coach Jenny Thigpin said. "The girls showed character by coming from behind on the road and making plays down the stretch to pick up a conference win."
Cal State East Bay returns to action Saturday, January 17, when it travels to Stanislaus State for a CCAA showdown. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock, California.
