BAKERSFIELD, CA – Despite a strong defensive effort and key performances, the Bakersfield College women's basketball team fell to Merced, 51-44, in a closely contested matchup at the Gil Bishop Sports Center.

The Renegades led Merced 15-13 in the opening quarter, fueled by early contributions from Dasani Allen. Merced responded in the second quarter, taking advantage of BC's turnovers to outscore the home team 12-10, resulting in a tie 25-25 at halftime.

The visiting team built its lead in the third quarter, holding Bakersfield to just six points while converting on second-chance opportunities. BC rallied late behind Allen and Sara Shein, who hit a key three-pointer in the fourth, but Merced's balanced scoring and dominance in the paint (28 points) kept them in control.

Leading the team for the night was Allen with 16 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Shein added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks while Alexis Killebrew scored 13 points, including three triples, to lead the bench unit.

With the loss, Bakersfield drops to 2-4 on the season and will head out for a few road games at the Santa Ana Tournament.