PASADENA, Calif. – The Caltech women's basketball team hosted its third game in four days Monday afternoon, this time taking on the Whitworth University Pirates.  Despite being outnumbered on the bench and missing some key contributors, the Beavers put up some solid performances against the formidable opponents from the Northwest Conference. 

Senior Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) put Caltech on the scoreboard with an old-fashioned three-pointer, drawing a foul on a jump shot that fell in, and then sinking her free throw. She knocked down another jumper and junior Claire Perhach (Carlsbad, Calif. / Sage Creek) followed with a layup off an assist by Kodie Vondra (Livingston, Mont. / Park). A two by rookie Eleanor Kim (Alexandria, Va. / Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology) followed, and then a three-ball by Vondra pulled the Beavers to within six.

Senior Faith Pinney (Spokane, Wash. / Gonzaga Preparatory School) got into the points column with a pair of free throws to start the Beavers' scoring in the second quarter, and Saikumar and Vondra followed with baskets to give Caltech 22 points at the half.

Sophomore Maria Vazhaeparambil (Saratoga, Calif. / The Harker School), playing in the starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career, claimed the first points of the second half with a poised layup, and fellow sophomore Eshani Patel (Cupertino, Calif. / Monta Vista) followed with a jump shot of her own.

Saikumar earned another three-point play at the beginning of the fourth quarter and finished the game with another double-double, dropping 16 points and claiming 13 rebounds on defense along with an assist, a block and two steals. Perhach was close behind with 11 points and pairs of assists and steals.

Head Coach Annie Tarakchian and the Beavers will enjoy the holiday break, returning to the hardwood for a road game at Occidental College on December 31.