PASADENA -- Senior Kate Lewis (San Antonio, Texas / Ronald Reagan) nearly had as many rebounds as she had points, but host Caltech was unable to overcome Benedictine University at Mesa (Ariz.) in Thursday's women's basketball season opener.

Lewis scored 15 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the Beavers' 71-63 loss to the Redhawks.

Lewis was not the only Beaver to impress in the opener, as freshman Samantha D'Costa (San Jose, Calif. / St. Francis) got the start at guard and showed she could be an immediate contributor by scoring 15 points as well. Both players also led the team with 40 minutes on the court, though points and minutes were not the only two statistics the two players shared. They also each went 5-for-11, converted on five free throws and and added two assists, three steals and one block. D'Costa even scored the Beavers' first two points of the season on a layup in transition following a Lewis steal.

Sophomore guard and fellow San Diegan Nika Haleftiras (San Diego, Calif. / Our Lady of Peace) and freshman Alexa Lauinger (Ortonville, Mich. / Brandon) each scored eight points to give their team some key depth scoring. Freshman Grace Peng (San Ramon, Calif. / California) got the chance to show her stuff as the Beavers' starting point guard and responded by leading the team with four assists to go with seven points.

Caltech had its chances throughout, and looked especially in sync early, taking a 21-16 lead into the second quarter. Neither team led by more than eight points while the Beavers outshot and outrebounded the Redhawks, with turnovers ultimately undoing the hosts' bid for a season-opening victory. 

Head Coach Sandra Marbut and the Beavers will look to build on the great opening-night effort when they host another Arizona visitor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.

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