Warriors Outlast UC Merced, Move on to the Semifinals

Warriors Outlast UC Merced, Move on to the Semifinals
February 26, 2023
By Francisco Claudio
 
It's that time of the year when every team that's made it this far transitions into a playoff-mode mentality.
 
The margin of error becomes smaller and the level of basketball and strategy elevates to another level, game to game.
 
The Westcliff women's basketball team took their first step toward their season goal as they survived a close finish, beating UC Merced 47-45.
 
It wasn't the prettiest of basketball at times as both teams struggled to find their shots in the first game of the postseason.
 
It was a low-scoring first quarter for both teams as the Warriors weren't able to buy a basket shooting 26.7% from the field. They made their only three-pointer attempt from Katie Nguyen, early in the quarter.
 
At the end of the first quarter, Westcliff was down 9-8.
 
Things picked up in the second quarter as the Warriors started to settle down and the nerves they might have been feeling went away.
 
A layup from Trinity Vasquez at the seven-minute mark helped spark a mini run for the Warriors who went up 22-15.
 
The score was frozen at this point for the next couple of minutes as each team struggled to make a basket after missed shots and turnovers. 
 
Vasquez broke the dry spell with a couple of free throws after a foul from UC Merced.
 
Westcliff wasn't able to get enough separation as they saw their lead shrink to only four points to end the second quarter, 24-20.
 
A single-digit lead is never safe in the game of basketball, especially when you implement free throws as a strategy or the three-point shot.
 
UC Merced led in both categories but not by much because of the shooting struggles. 
 
The third quarter was another low-scoring encounter going in the favor of the Warriors who would start the fourth leading 33-27.
 
Westcliff got some early buckets in the fourth and extended their lead to double digits after a jump shot from Vasquez.
 
But they wouldn't run away with it as UC Merced fought back making it a three-point game with two minutes left in regulation.
 
The score was 44-41 in favor of the Warriors and it would stay that way until the Bobcats made a basket with 20 seconds left in the game. 
 
At this point, it became a foul and free throw shooting match which the Warriors didn't back down as Vasquez and Katie Nguyen stepped up and made some crucial free throws.
 
It wasn't easy, but a win is a win and the Warriors will take everything that happened today onto the next round as they continue their playoff journey.
 
Vasquez had a great game scoring a game-high 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Vasquez shot 41% from the field and was perfect on her four attempts from the free-throw line. A couple of those were late in the game when the team needed them the most. 
 
Eva Taylor had nine points, three assists, and three steals. 
 
Nguyen almost had a double-double with nine points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Nguyen made a big free throw at the end of the game.
 
Overall, the Warriors shot 34% from the field, 43% from beyond the arc, and 67% from the free throw line. 
 
The Warriors will get one day of rest and recovery before they play the #1 team in the conference, Antelope Valley.
 
The semifinal will take place on Monday, Feb. 27, with the tip-off at 12 PM PST.