Photo by: Justin Hyon, Caltech Yearbook

 

PASADENA, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2021) - Freshman Kathryn Edwards (Centennial, Colo, / Arapahoe) continued her stellar rookie season with a career-high tying 22 points and five steals as Caltech women's basketball held an edge over visiting Lewis & Clark College through three quarters before succumbing to a furious late rally.

 

Edwards entered Monday afternoon's contest versus L&C leading the Caltech Beavers in nearly every offensive category. With 276 minutes logged on the season in her nine starts, second only to sophomore Hope Arnett (Torrance, Calif. / Chadwick School), Edwards has demonstrated her versatility, averaging a team high of 16.6 points per game, while filling it up from inside the paint as well as beyond the arc.

 

"Kathryn's had a terrific start to her college career," Head Coach Bridgette Reyes said. "We were hopeful that she would be able to contribute in a meaningful way, and she has exceeded all expectations. We are excited to see what she does the rest of the way."

 

In a see-saw battle with the Pioneers from Portland, Ore., Caltech broke out to an early lead only to be reeled in by the visitors. At the end of the first-quarter Caltech led 17-16 on an afternoon that was destined to see a back-and-forth affair. The visitors turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter, forcing Caltech into tough shots. The Pioneers held the Beavers to 15 points in the second stanza. When the teams went to the locker room for halftime, Caltech trailed by four, 32-28.

 

As the teams came back out of the locker room to begin the second half, a beautifully designed play by Caltech led to an easy basket and once again the hosts had the crowd into the game and excited about Caltech re-capturing the lead. The odd-numbered frames were positive for the Beavers, as they regained the lead at the end of the third-quarter, 40-38, despite shooting only 28 percent on the afternoon, the second lowest percentage of made fields goals on the season. Yet just as Lewis & Clark had navigated the path early on, it took some effort and energy for them to clamp down on Edwards, freeing up junior Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) to chip in with 13 points on the afternoon. After a hotly contested through three quarters, the visitors scored 21 points in the fourth while holding Caltech to only seven points for the period to steal the win.

 

Next up for Caltech is a midweek date with Manchester University. The game, originally scheduled to be played at Caltech, will be played at an alternate site at the University of La Verne on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 22 at 12 p.m. This game will wrap up the first semester action, with the Beavers back in action after the Winter Recess on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 when they take to the road to play against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 7 p.m.