PASADENA, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2021) – Rookie Kathryn Edwards (Centennial, Colo. / Arapahoe) dropped 20 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting in Caltech women's basketball's 68-58 regional win over Linfield University on Tuesday night.

Caltech is out to a 2-0 start on the season for the first time since 2018.

A slow start for the Beavers kept the game tight through the first quarter as Linfield netted the first seven points and led by a high of eight at 10-2 three minutes into play. Caltech steadily worked back into the mix with Edwards and junior Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) scoring the first 11 points before a pair of layups in the final minute gave the hosts a narrow 15-14 edge at the first break.

Saikumar and Edwards kept up their offensive barrage in the second quarter, pulling Caltech back into a 21-19 lead after briefly surrendering it. The Wildcats regained a one-point edge minutes later, but the momentum shifted massively on back-to-back possessions. Saikumar found sophomore Claire Zhang (Medford, N.J. / Lenape) on the wing for an open three-pointer before classmate Hope Arnett (Torrance, Calif. / Chadwick School) forced a steal and quickly got the ball up court to another classmate in Milan Robinson (Anaheim, Calif. / Fairmont Prep), who drew the contact and still finished then converted the and-one opportunity. Saikumar followed that up with an old-fashioned three-point play of her own to stake Caltech to a nine-point lead and the Beavers maintained a six-point edge by halftime at 33-27.

Head Coach Bridgette Reyes' squad would stretch the lead to as many as 11 points on two occasions over a decisive second half in which the offense spread the ball around well, with Edwards punctuating her impressive performance with a perfect 3-for-3 (2-for-2 from long range), nine-point final quarter.

The Beavers outshot their opponent 47-38 percent from the field and 43-25 percent from beyond the arc while forcing 24 turnovers. Edwards rounded out her line with five rebounds, two assists and two steals while Saikumar finished with 15 points, eight boards, three assists, a block and a steal. Arnett also reached double figures for the first time with 10 points to go with four assists and three steals. Junior Faith Pinney (Spokane, Wash. / Gonzaga Prep) notched five points on just two shots and a free throw to go with four rebounds and four assists.

Reyes and the Beavers will host another pair of Northwest Conference foes this weekend in the University of Puget Sound (Friday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m.) and Pacific Lutheran University (Saturday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m.).