Photo: Shu Fay Ung

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2020) – The Caltech women's basketball team provided a stiff test for defending SCIAC champion Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Wednesday evening, once again coming within a few points of scoring the upset victory.

The Beavers put the pressure on the Sagehens by producing two 20 point scorers while weaponizing the free throw line, a key point in the team's success this season. Caltech got to the line 17 times on Wednesday night and converted on 15 of those attempts. Moreover, the Beavers went a perfect 12-for-12 at the line in the second half, which proved to be the key for the visitors in another strong fourth-quarter effort. Fueled by a strong defensive effort and nine points from senior guard Grace Peng (San Ramon, Calif. / California), Caltech trailed Pomona-Pitzer by just two points at the half and even had the lead up until the final 90 seconds of the second quarter.

After the Beavers fell victim to a Sagehens run in the third quarter, the fourth belonged to the newly-minted program assist leader Peng along with freshman forward Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia). The two players combined for 19 of the Beavers' 27 fourth-quarter points and Saikumar concluded the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Alexa Lauinger (Ortonville, Mich. / Brandon) joined Saikumar with a double-double, scoring 14 points to go with 10 rebounds. Additionally, freshman guard Faith Pinney (Spokane, Wash. / Gonzaga Preparatory School) put her exceptional vision on full display with six assists, a season-best for the freshman in SCIAC competition. Caltech once again thrived on the glass, using its exceptional size in the starting five to outrebound the home team, 42-35.

Head Coach Bridgette Reyes and the Beavers will aim for their second SCIAC win of the season when they travel to Chapman University on Saturday, Jan. 25.

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