Thermodynamics and linear equations played a part in the Caltech
women's loss last night to the University of LaVerne. It wasn't the
Leopards energy conversion or the fact they had multiple variables
Tech needed to solve that caused the Beaver's heartache. It was the
massive problem sets that kept the Techers up late and forced them
into competition with minimal sleep that played the biggest factor
on the floor. Consecutive nights with little sleep never allowed
the Beavers to recharge the battery pack, leaving them depleted and
living the challenge of being a student athlete at a world-class
institution.
Right from the tip Tech looks out of sorts. Tired but trying to
pull it together, Tech was never able to find a groove. Passes had
no zip, post ups were overpowered easily, and shots fell short. Yet
the heart of the Beavers never stopped even when it was clear they
were swimming against the current. The team fought back as best
they could, earning respect but not enough points to call it close.
Caltech managed to grab the first basket of the game, but that
was the last of the lead the Beavers saw. Unable to connect on the
offensive end of the floor, Tech looked to their defense as a
spark. The Beavers were moderately successful limiting the Leopards
to 29 points and a not great but respectable 35% from the floor.
The clear blow came from LaVerne's long range shooting. The
leopards hit 41% of their attempts from behind the three-point arc,
extending their lead to seventeen by the half. In complete contrast
Tech shot only 24% from the floor and came up empty handed from
three-point land, leaving only 12 points on the board at the half
time buzzer.
Hoping the rest of halftime might bring a second wind, the
Beavers came out to score the first basket again, but were unable
to create any momentum and LaVerne answered the call by widening
the gap. The second half did boost the Beavers shooting, but the
increase wasn't enough to bring Tech in range of a comeback, and
Caltech finished the evening down 31 points. Tired legs reared
their ugly heads for Tech at the line, causing a miserable 42% for
free throws. Tech has yet to kick the turnover plague, and finished
the night with 30 notches on that stat line.
The bright spot for the Beavers was the double double registered
by Teri Juarez. Her team high 12 points and 11 rebounds marked the
sixth time this season she has put up double digits in two
categories. Juarez scored 8 of her teams 12 points in the first
half and was 5 for 9 from the floor on the evening. Teammate Krissy
Dahl added 11 point and had a solid shooting night as well, hitting
5 of her 12 attempts. Dahl had 4 blocked shots to put her only one
block away from tying her own single season record. In her first
season, Dahl swatted 52 shots, and the four against LaVerne brought
her current season total to 51.
Caltech is back in SCIAC action on Saturday, traveling to
Whittier College. Squaring off against Whittier for the first game
of round two, Tech hopes to avenge the 33-point loss earlier in
January. The meeting with the Poets was Tech's first conference
game of the season, and was a less than bright shooting night. The
Beavers hope to use their recently energized defense to control the
Poets and look for a second conference win. Tip off is at 5pm, with
the Caltech men following at 7:30pm.
GO TECH!!!
BOXSCORE
