SAN DIMAS (1-28) – UC Santa Cruz played their second game of a two game road trip as they took on USCAA member California Miramar University at Life Pacific College in San Dimas. The Banana Slugs held the Fighting Falcons to single digit scoring in each of the four quarters that were played and won 70-24.

In their last game, the Banana Slugs lost 92-74 to NAIA member University of Antelope Valley on Sunday in Lancaster.

In the first quarter, the Banana Slugs would score the first basket of the ballgame on a Michelle Poole layup with 9:43 left in the quarter. The Banana Slugs would never relinquish the lead as they then would go on a 12-0 run, capped by a Poole layup, to give the Banana Slugs a 14-0 lead with 6:45 left in the quarter. The Fighting Falcons would come as close as twelve, at 14-2, on a Lakeisha Sims layup with six minutes left in the quarter. The Banana Slugs led 24-4 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Banana Slugs would continue to extend their advantage. The closest the Fighting Falcons would come would be nineteen, at 29-10, on a Jordan Johnson layup with 5:36 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would finish the half on a 7-1 run, capped by a CJ Catina jumper with 1:15 left, to give the Banana Slugs their largest lead of the half at 36-11. The Banana Slugs led 36-11 at the halftime break.   

In the third quarter, the Banana Slugs would continue to control the pace of play. The Banana Slugs would start the quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by a Jenna Sparks free throw, to give the Banana Slugs a 44-11 lead with 8:47 left in the quarter. The Fighting Falcons would come as close as twenty-nine, at 46-17, on a Johnson layup with 5:46 left in the quarter. The Banana Slugs led 51-17 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers would hold the Fighting Falcons at arms' length. The Banana Slugs would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at forty-eight, at 70-22, on an Alaina Alverez jumper with 2:40 left. The Banana Slugs won 70-24 breaking their two game losing streak. Tonight's game was also the first time the Banana Slugs had held an opponent to under thirty points since 2013.

CJ Catina had eleven points to lead the Banana Slugs. Lakeisha Sims had a game high twelve points for the Fighting Falcons. Poole had ten points and Jasmin Dimson and Sparks both had nine points apiece in the win. Indaleisa Bernal and Johnson both had five points for the Fighting Falcons.

The Banana Slugs shot 39.3% (24-61) from the field, 31% (9-29) from the three-point line and were 65% (13-20) from the free throw line. The Fighting Falcons shot 24.2% (8-33) from the field, 11.1% (1-9) from the three-point line and 50% (7-14) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced twelve Fighting Falcon turnovers scoring twelve points off the turnovers while the Fighting Falcons' defense forced nineteen turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring eight points off the turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded California Miramar 50-27 and had ten second chance points (15-5) than did the Fighting Falcons.

The next game for the Banana Slugs is Saturday as they take on NCCAA member Bethesda University of California at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tip off is set for 5 pm.