It was a big night for the Beavers as they did what no other
Caltech women's basketball team have accomplished...a SCIAC win on
the road. And big it was. In a 15-point margin, Caltech dealt
Pomona Pitzer a loss and for the second time made the Sagehens the
subject of a Tech first. Back in January of 2007 Caltech got its
first SCIAC win on their home court against the Sagehens.
Caltech meant business from the tip, and jumped out to an early
lead, and held off a couple of Pomona Pitzer surges in the open
minutes to stay in the driver's seat for virtually the entire game.
For the first five minutes, the teams volleyed back and forth. Tech
got a lead, Pomona answered for the tie and back to Tech. Pomona
suffered a tough shooting night unable to connect and shooting 22%
on the half, while Caltech showed patience and poise, looking for
just the right shot to put up. The beavers hit an amazing 54% of
their shots in the first 20 minutes. They were rewarded with basket
after basket, and at the point the first half buzzer echoed in the
gym, Tech was up by 12.
Untested in this position, Tech had to prove they could hold a
lead. The challenge raised the ire in the Beavers, as they emerged
from the locker room ready to push ahead. At one point the Beavers
enjoyed an 18-point margin. With each tick of the clock, the
Beavers grew confident and kept pushing. Pomona Pitzer hoped a
change of scenery shooting at the other basket would yield the same
good fortune the bucket had given Tech, but were disappointed. The
second half the Sagehens shot slightly better, but still had a
dismal 28% from the floor, while the Beavers stayed above the 50%
mark.
The final minute started to get dicey for Caltech as key
turnovers gave the Hens their chance to make a run. At one point
the cushion narrowed to 10, but Techer Erin Hoops came to the
rescue. Hitting 10 of 11 from the free throw line, Hoops put the
ball in the basket when it counted. If the turnover situation
wasn't enough adversity for Tech, two Beavers went to the bench to
hang it up for the night with five fouls. Both Lisa Yee and Teri
Juarez registered the maximum number of fouls in the scorebook.
With a depth challenge from the first day of the season, the loss
of Yee and Juarez had potential to be Tech's worst nightmare.
Rising to the call, the bench play of Hoi Yee Nam and Shannon
Mohler gave the Beavers what they needed to see a 15-point spread
on the scoreboard as time expired.
Yee and Hoops shared the title of game high scoring. Both had 23
points and posted an outstanding shooting performance. Hoops was 5
of 11 from the floor, and Yee was an astonishing 11 for 16. Yee
posted yet another double double with 14 rebounds to book end her
points. Hoops finished one assist away from a double double of her
own, tallying 9 for the night. Also in double digits for the
Beavers were Juarez and Krissy Dahl. Juarez and Dahl had 9 and 8
rebounds respectively.
The evening culminated in a number of new single game records
for Caltech. The 53.8% field goal percentage was the best outing
overall and in SCIAC. It was also the highest score in SCIAC and
the most Field Goals Made for a conference game.
Caltech returns home next Thursday to end round one of SCIAC
play with the University of LaVerne at Braun Athletic Center,
tip-off of is at 7:30pm.
GO TECH!!!
BOXSCORE
