PASADENA, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2022) – After a slow first quarter, eight ties and 12 lead changes, the Caltech women's basketball team pulled ahead of California Lutheran University for good, shutting down the Regals' offense and cruising to a 62-51 win. The victory set a new program record for the most SCIAC wins in a season. 

The Beavers scored on their first possession of the game, with junior Faith Pinney (Spokane, Wash. / Gonzaga Preparatory School) picking up a steal and then finishing with a layup. After another good layup by freshman starter Kathryn Edwards (Centennial, Colo. / Arapahoe), Pinney hit a three-pointer to give Caltech an early 7-2 lead. The foes traded baskets before Cal Lutheran then went on an 8-0 run to establish a four-point lead. The Regals capitalized on turnovers and missed Caltech shots to finish the first quarter ahead, 16-11.  

It ended up being the only quarter Cal Lutheran would win. Some early foul trouble for the Regals in the second quarter led to a staggering 15 free throw opportunities for Caltech and the Beavers made 13 of them in their 21-point quarter. A buzzer-beating layup by Marquis energized her team and the Beaver fans in attendance, making it a 32-29 score at halftime. 

"We really picked up our defensive intensity," Assistant Coach Dennis Ko said of the team's adjustments in the second half. "We fought hard for every rebound and were able to control what Cal Lu could do offensively. That was key for us to win, holding them to 20 points."

The move paid off as the Beavers held the Regals to just 28.8 percent field goal shooting after the midway break, while Caltech surged ahead with 30 points on 54 percent accuracy from the field. 

It was a solid team effort from the starters as four players scored in double figures. Edwards, Pinney, and sophomore Hope Arnett (Torrance, Calif. / Chadwick School) all finished with 13 points, with Arnett adding four assists and four steals. Pinney picked up a pair of steals, four rebounds and never turned the ball over during the game. 

Junior Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) was one rebound shy of a double-double, with team highs of 16 points, nine rebounds, and 5-for-5 free throw shooting, the fifth one capping a three-point play after drawing a foul on a successful jump shot right after grabbing an offensive rebound.  

Head Coach Bridgette Reyes and the Beavers host the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Sagehens in their final regular season home game on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m.