Tight win over Whittier puts Athenas at 11-0 in SCIAC

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In a game rife with streaks and droughts, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team pulled out a win on Tuesday night against Whittier 72-67. CMS improved to 11-0 in SCIAC play while the Poets are now 2-8.

Despite jumping out to a 12-0 lead at the beginning of the game, the Athenas were unable to shut down the tenacious Poets who rallied back and kept it close, late in the game.

In the first few possessions, CMS poured in the points from behind the arc. Senior Mara Falahee (SCR) made her sixth three pointer on the season, assisted by Kailee Severt (CMC). Severt, the team's leading three-point shooter, then drained one of her own to put CMS up 10-0. Severt ended up with 21 points, her third highest point total of the year.

After the Athenas' initial success, Whittier countered with 10 unanswered points, entirely from Carly Buechler.

Whittier's Daniza Rodriguez came alive in the second quarter, scoring 10 points for the Poets. Whittier won the second quarter but CMS still owned the eight point lead at halftime.

Daniza continued her success at the beginning of the third quarter, contributing to the Poets' first lead of the game at 37-35. WC's largest lead came midway through the third, leading the Athenas by three points at 40-37. Severt then kicked off a seven point run for CMS with a bucket by Kayalin Akens-Irby (CMC).

In the fourth quarter, the Athenas looked to other players besides Severt to earn the win. Falahee was 4-for-4, contributing eight points and junior Jai Dungca (CMC) made two baskets including a three-pointer to start the quarter. The Athenas extended their lead up to 10 points at 64-54, but Whittier came back with in three at 67-70. Junior Claire Donnelly (CMC) sealed the win with two free throws with five seconds on the clock.

CMS plays the next two games on the road at Occidental (7-12, 3-7 SCIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 6 and then at La Verne (3-14, 2-7 SCIAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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