photo credit: Alicia Tsai
photo credit: Alicia Tsai

Athenas Pull Away From Spartans with Strong Second-Half

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas used a strong second-half to separate themselves from the Case Western Reserve University Spartans in a 78-58 victory on Friday evening. Kailee Severt (CMC) scored 22 points to lead the Athenas offensively. Maya Love (CMC) registered her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Love also dished out four assists and swiped a pair of steals.

Lindsey Cleary (CMC) joined Severt and Love in double-figures with 10 points on the evening.

The Athenas dominated the boards all night long. CMS held a 55-28 advantage on the glass and collected a total of 23 offensive rebounds that resulted in 17 second-chance points.

CMS actually trailed 35-33 at the half, but a 28-point third quarter turned the tables. During the strong quarter, CMS went 10-15 from the field while holding the Spartans to just a 6-17 mark. It was the final four minutes of the quarter that separated the Athenas from the Spartans. Case Western's Emily Todd made a jump shot with 3:50 left in the third to tie the game at 46-46, but Maya Love connected on an and-one layup to start a 15-5 run over the next three and a half minutes to give CMS a 61-51 lead heading into the fourth.

During the run, Kailee Severt delivered nine points, thanks to a trio of three-pointers, and Ellery Koelker-Wolfe (CMC) added a three as well. Led by Severt's 4-6 mark from downtown, the Athenas shot at a .455 clip from beyond the arc on Friday night.

The run continued into the final period when the Athenas scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to take a 70-51 lead. The Spartans closed the gap to as few as 12 at 70-58, but an 8-0 CMS run closed out the game and gave the Athenas the 78-58 victory.

With the victory on Friday, CMs moves to 2-1 on the young season. The Athenas will be across the street tomorrow as they face a tough test against the Ithaca Bombers. The game will tip at 3:00 p.m. in the Rains Center on Pomona-Pitzer's campus.