Box Score MERCED — The women's basketball team is 3-0 for the first time in six seasons after the Warriors defeated UC Merced, 70-56, at Hostetler Court in Merced.

Ana Burch was the star in Friday night's contest as the freshman scored 12, picked up eight assists and had four steals to lead Cal State Stanislaus. Burch only missed one shot as she was 3-for-3 from the field, including a three-pointer, and made five of six free throws. She also grabbed four rebounds.

Also chipping in was Lauren Godde with 11 points and seven rebounds plus two blocked shots and Briana Cotton turned in nine points.

The last time the Warriors started the year 3-0 was in 2008 when they started 4-0 and went on to go 6-1 before losing four straight. The three-win start is already an improvement from last season's 2-win season.

On Friday night, the Warriors didn't shoot well before finishing 34.9 percent from the field. But the UCM Bobcats (0-5) didn't hit many shots either as they were 16 for 54 for the game (29.6 percentage).

The Warriors led by as many as 20 points early in the second half after expanding a 17-point halftime lead on a 6-3 run capped by a Cotton trey to make it 48-28, at 17:35.

The Stanislaus lead hovered around 18-points the rest of the night until a mini-surge by UC Merced that cut it down to 12, 64-52, at 3:55 on a Shelby Howard free throw. Howard finished as the UCM leader with 18 points. Adrienne Carmona led all players with 13 rebounds.

Riley Holladay scored seven points while Jasmine Washington and Erin Godde each chipped in six for Stanislaus, which hosts Chico State to open California Collegiate Athletic Association play Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Arena.