"We have more" is the mantra of the Caltech Women's Basketball
team after a great week on the court in Braun Athletic Center.
Coming off a tough battle with Redlands, where the margin was only
14, the Beavers brought the same mind set to the floor against the
Athenas of Claremont Mudd Scripps. Unfortunately for Tech the final
score favored CMS, but Tech didn't go down without a fight.
The Beavers hit the ground running with the tip going their way,
then scoring the first basket. Three ties unfolded in the first
period of play, and it was a neck and neck battle. Back and forth,
Tech scored, CMS answered. If the Athenas tried to pull away, Tech
replied with a bucket. Caltech found the basket easily, scoring on
47% of their shots, while CMS didn't really get comfortable,
flicking the net only 30% of the time in the first half. Identical
percentages were on both sides of the box score for the three point
attempts. With about 6:00 minutes to go in the first half, CMS
grabbed the driver's seat and headed into halftime with only a six
point edge.
Then in the second half, CMS started putting big shots in the
basket. Tech kept answering the surge, but trading two points for
threes on the other end. Tech never chased more than a 14 point
difference on the scoreboard. The difference in the second period
was the Athenas red hot shooting hand. CMS came out of the locker
room hitting an amazing 56% of their shots. In both halves
combined, CMS finished with a 41% shooting percentage. Caltech
certainly stepped up with all they had to answer the call, hitting
a more than respectable 43% on the evening, but it wasn't quite
enough.
The difference in the game was likely Tech turnovers, a problem
for the team all season. 27 turnovers in the game are lower than
Tech's average, but still a staggering amount in a game that could
have been anyone's. The missed opportunities gave CMS a chance to
score 29 points. CMS only committed 13 turnovers leading to 11
points for the Beavers, leaving the turnover situation as the
culprit in the loss. The second glaring advantage for CMS was in
bench points. The Athenas were able to add 28 points to their total
while Caltech added none. Depth has been the other Tech problem
through the season.
Teri Juarez led her team with her fifth double double of the
season, putting 15 points in the bucket and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Juarez was 6 for 9 from the floor. All five starters scored well,
with only Lisa Yee missing the double digit posting by only 1. Yee
finished the evening with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Post player
Krissy Dahl owned the paint, scoring 13 points, distributed the
ball for 7 assists and added three more blocks to her tally. Both
Erin Hoops and Sarah Wright had 12 points. Hoops had a nice
shooting night, going five of seven, while Wright was able to find
two steals turning them into baskets on the break.
Despite the loss, Tech remains confident and the confidence
grows every day. The young squad is getting the time on the floor
that will benefit them late in the season. With only one upper
class player in the starting line up, the future is bright. And as
the young Beavers find their "more" through the week, the remaining
games on the SCIAC schedule should get very interesting.
Tech continues through its SCIAC schedule and hit the road this
week. Thursday the Beavers cross town to visit Occidental College
for a 7:30pm tip off. Then on Saturday, Tech goes east to Pomona
Pitzer, with the jump ball tossed at 5pm.
GO TECH
BOXSCORE
