Aggressive Athenas avenge early season loss

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team that took the floor in Roberts Pavilion on Monday night worked hard to earn the 53-43 win over Occidental. Earlier in the season, Oxy had handed CMS its only SCIAC loss on a last second layup, but the Athenas came roaring back tonight for the victory and to regain the lead of the SCIAC.

Even statistics clearly show the differences between the two games. From Dec. 10 to Jan. 17, the Athenas doubled their steals and slashed their turnovers in half. Tonight, junior Corinne Bogle (CMC) led CMS with four steals, followed closely by senior Kris Brackmann (CMC) at three. The pair accounted for half of the team's 14 steals, the highest total since the first game of the 2016-17 campaign. CMS went on to score 21 points off turnovers.

The first quarter saw CMS lead for almost the entire ten minutes until Oxy's Dru Ishibashi hit a three in the final possession for the Tigers to take the 13-12 lead. Brackmann had already nabbed five boards while also leading the team with five points.

In the second, Oxy garnered as much as a three-point lead but then junior Kailee Severt (CMC) went to work. In back-to-back possessions, Severt made a layup and then jump shot to regain a narrow lead for CMS. Senior Aly Young (CMC) came off the bench and immediately made a difference in the paint. Young was 2-for-2 in the quarter.

Stellar Athena defense held Oxy to just nine points in the second quarter while the Tigers' last bucket was recorded was recorded with 5:53 still on the clock. For the rest of the quarter, Oxy made three foul shots while CMS scored ten points. Going into the half, the Athenas held the 28-22 lead.

Another strong quarter after the break gave CMS an eight point advantage. In the third, four of five starters each grabbed an offensive board. As a team, the Athenas hauled in 14 offensive rebounds, led by senior Quinn Glosniak (CMC) at six.

The Athenas again held the Tigers to single digits in the fourth quarter to stretch out their lead for the eventual 53-43 win.

With the victory, CMS (9-6, 5-1) breaks Oxy's (9-7, 5-2) five game win streak and overtook the Tigers for the lead of the SCIAC. Next up for the Athenas is an away game at Chapman (7-7, 4-1) this Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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