Progress can come in many ways, and for the Caltech Beavers, progress was enough as they took on the Regals of Cal Lutheran. The previous meeting between the teams resulted in one of Tech's worst outings of the season, and the Beavers were determined to prove they were a better team than they showed at Cal Lu.

From the starts the Beavers were on task, grabbing the tip and turning it into the first bucket of the game. The Regals answered with the three point attack, but Tech keep coming back at them. Cal Lu opened the game to 7 and Tech cut it to one. Tech went late into the half before they found a double digit deficit to over come, but spirits were high.

Caltech's zone counted on the Regals struggling from the perimeter. A calculated risk, Tech knew Cal Lu's long range shot was inconsistent. Chewed up by the drive and shots in the paint the last time the teams met, Tech looked to frustrate the Regals and play the percentages. Much to their credit, the Regals hit the perimeter shots when the pressure was on. Tech did shut down the inside game forcing the Regals to score its first five buckets outside the arc. Tech's zone worked well in streaks, leaving the Regals scoreless for blocks at a time, four minutes here, three minutes there, four minutes in another spot.

The offensive end was where Tech struggled to answer. Finding high percentage shots, the physicality of the Regals was more than Tech was able to counter. Tech shot only 28% from the floor in the first half. Tech had to work hard for each shot and often bounced around the paint like a pinball with the bigger Regal bodies. At the other end of the floor, the Regals came up with 42% of their attempts flicking the bottom of the net. With five minutes to go, Tech found itself down by 11. The gap eventually became 15 at the buzzer, but a vast improvement was clear. The first time the team met Cal Lu this season the half time difference was 32. Cutting that in half, Tech headed to the locker room encouraged but not satisfied.

The chance to regroup gave Tech new legs as they came back for round two. Rest reenergized the Beavers, and Tech stepped up their defense. This half, the Beavers kept Cal Lu in check, cutting their shooting percentage in half. The Regals were only able to score on 21% of their attempts in this half, and Caltech's zone did its job. Unfortunately for Tech the hole it had dug in the first half was too big to climb out of. The rough shooting night continued for Tech allowing the gap to grow. A five minute sequence in the second half put Tech down by 20+ and their tired legs were unable to produce the baskets they needed to get back into the game.

At the final buzzer, Tech was on the wrong end of a 23 point gap, but appreciating their progress. This time around Tech shot better, scored more points, committed fewer turnovers, grabbed more rebounds, and held the Regals to a lower shooting percent than the first time the teams met. The Beavers were disappointed, but in light of the obstacles the season has held for them, progress was enough to keep spirits high.

Only one player for each team reached double digits. Danika Briggs of Cal Lu had the game high of 17 points. The Regals had 10 players register points and 12 receive minutes, in comparison to Caltech with only six scoring and 8 entering the game. Tech's Krissy Dahl was team's the leading scorer, knocking down 13 points, grabbing 6 boards and blocking an amazing five shots. Dahl broke her own single season record for blocked shots with her efforts the previous game. Dahl now sits with 60 blocked shots on the season and is currently ranked 15th in the nation in the stat category.

Lisa Yee grabbed 8 rebounds off the glass. Yee has secured her place as Caltech's All Time Leading Rebounder, leading all three rebounding categories for the Beavers. One more record setting performance is under way for the Beavers. Erin Hoops added four assists to her stats as she chases down the single season assist record. Hoops need only 11 more to own that milestone, and with five games left, Hoops has the room she needs to etch her name into the program's history as a sophomore.

Caltech hits the road for the longest of its SCIAC travels this weekend. Saturday the Beavers head east to University of Redlands for its second meeting of the season. The Bulldogs came to Braun in January and were held to their lowest scoring night of the season. The Tech defense allowed only 49 points from the dogs, and will likely see a fierce response at Currier gym. Tip off is at 5pm with the Caltech men following at 7:30pm.

GO TECH!!!

BOXSCORE