PASADENA, Calif. – In the wake of a thrilling victory up North over the past weekend, Caltech Women's Basketball carried that momentum into their first conference-play matchup of the 2022-23 season, pulling away in the second half and finishing 21 points ahead of Chapman University. The result marks the first Beavers victory over the Panthers in their head-to-head history dating back to 2006.

Caltech started off confidently, trading field goals with Chapman as Kathryn Edwards nailed a couple layups, followed by three more by Kodie Vondra in the initial back-and-forth battling and neither team leading by more than three points. Baskets by Sahana Saikumar, Eshani Patel and Saumya Chauhan kept the game close and the Beavers led 18-16 at the end of the first quarter.

After Chapman pulled back in front at the start of the second frame, Milan Robinson drained a jump shot to tie it up at 20-20, and with 3:50 left before halftime, Faith Pinney electrified the Braun Gymnasium crowd with a three-pointer to put Caltech back on top 30-28. Caltech outscored Chapman 13-4 through the rest of the period and the teams headed to the locker rooms with the Beavers leading 40-32. 

Caltech never let up and extended their lead throughout the third quarter, shooting 47.1% from the field and holding Chapman to just 25% success. Saikumar and Edwards kept racking up the points along with a big three by Vondra and a three-point play by Chauhan, who drew a foul on a layup that fell in.

The fourth quarter saw Saikumar explode with 13 points including back-to-back threes amid a 17-4 barrage extending into the waning minutes of the contest. She led both teams three stat categories, earning a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds along with three blocked shots. She further dished out three assists to her teammates.

Edwards also ammassed a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds including a game-high four offensive boards. Vondra was the Beavers' top playmaker of the night, completing six assists and nabbing three steals along with her 12 points. Chauhan led the bench with 12 points and six rebounds.

"We are so good together," Head Coach Annie Tarakchian beamed after the historic win. "Everyone scored, the energy high, and our leaders leading strong. So proud of our composure and focus tonight. I'm confident in this team, and they're finally starting to be confident in themselves too, which is what makes all the difference. Making history is always fun too, and so well deserved."

The decisive win snapped Chapman's 20-game win streak against Caltech, beginning in Pasadena on Dec. 10, 2006 before the Panthers had re-joined the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). The Beavers came as close as a four-point loss in the 2019-20 season just falling short in a 93-89 shootout.

Tarakchian and the Beavers continue the SCIAC campaign with a home game against Whittier College this Saturday at 2 p.m.