ORANGE, Calif. — The Caltech women's basketball team faced off against the Chapman University Panthers on Wednesday night in a SCIAC showdown on the road.

Action tipped off just after 7 p.m. and it was the visiting Beavers who jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after senior forward Claire Perhach (Carlsbad, Calif. / Sage Creek) finished a strong layup before the veteran downed a good jumper after receiving the feed from junior guard-forward Kathryn Edwards (Centennial, Colo. / Arapahoe).

The home team soon took over the lead though a nice layup from senior guard Milan Robinson (Anaheim, Calif. / Fairmont Prep) brought Caltech to within two points.

Less than one minute later, junior guard Saumya Chauhan (Fremont, Calif. / Mission San Jose) drained a shot from behind the arc to put Caltech down just one at 10-9.

The Panthers again pulled ahead, though a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from junior guard Kodie Vondra (Livingston, Mont. / Park) to close the first quarter brought the Beavers within two possessions.

The second quarter began where the first one left off, as Vondra splashed another shot from long range just 16 seconds into action to put the Beavers within three. Vondra kept up her shooting streak with yet another 3-pointer make towards the end of the half, tying the contest at 33-33.

It was an evenly matched period for the two programs, who each recorded their best offensive quarter of the game with 24 points apiece.

The hosts bested the Institute in the third quarter, though the Beavers continued to fight. The squad won the fourth quarter 15-12, though it was not enough to overcome the Panthers.

Vondra led the team in field goals, threes and scoring, going 5-for-9 and a perfect 4-4 from deep along with two free throws for 16 points.

Chauhan notched four assists to tie the game high and set a new career best. The junior scored 11 points and led the squad in rebounds with seven – just one shy of her career high set earlier this season in the team's win over Pomona-Pitzer. Robinson also reached double-digits in scoring with 11.

Edwards posted an excellent defensive performance as she led all players in steals (four) and blocks (three).

As a team, Caltech went 8-for-18 (.444) from distance; they made 16 free throws to Chapman's four. The Beavers collected four blocks to the Panther's one; they earned 10 fastbreak points while the hosts scored nine.

Head coach Annie Tarakchian and the group will now prepare for another road contest as they take on Pomona-Pitzer Colleges this Saturday. Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. Follow the action online at gocaltech.com/coverage and follow Caltech Women's Basketball on Instagram.

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