PASADENA, Calif. – Caltech Women's Basketball hosted the University of La Verne Leopards Saturday afternoon at Braun Gymnasium, enduring a late surge by the visitors to secure a 57-55 win in front of one of the biggest home crowds of the 2024-25 season.

The day opened with the team playing an exhibition game against some talented Beaver alumnae, from recent graduates all the way back to Angie Bealko of the Caltech Class of 1996, who played on the men's team before helping to create the women's team. After the morning friendly, the elder Beavers helped pack the bleachers and witnessed one of the most thrilling contests of the year.

Caltech opened up the scoring with a pair of three-pointers, first from rookie Anamaria Robertson and followed by senior Kathryn Edwards. La Verne replied with a 10-point run before first-year Kyra Phaychanpheng drained a pair of layups bookending a three by rookie Zeynep Goktepe. The Beavers would hold a one-point lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter saw some more back-and-forth action, with four tied scores and six lead changes, but the Beavers ended up on top with a three-point halftime advantage thanks to a seven-point quarter by Edwards, as well as critical baskets by first-year Carolyn Ruan and senior Asmat Taunque.

La Verne erased their deficit in the third quarter, but the Beavers rallied in the fourth quarter with some clutch plays to regain and ultimately hold the lead. Senior Kodie Vondra drew a desperation foul from La Verne and sunk a critical free throw for Caltech's final point and adding pressure to the Leopards. After a Leopard timeout that advanced the ball to their front court, they were unable to flip the script with a field goal and the Beavers celebrated jubilantly at the final buzzer.

Edwards led her team with 16 total points, leaving her just eight points off the all-time Caltech record for career points. She added a team-high eight rebounds along with two assists, a steal and a blocked shot.  Phaychanpheng followed with 12 points, four steals and three boards. Robertson and Goktepe each notched 10 points for the Beavers, and Vondra led both teams in steals with five.

Head Coach Annie Tarakchian and the Beavers will next head out to University of Redlands to take on the Bulldogs Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.