Athenas Rally Late to Top Pomona-Pitzer

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team had to mount a second-half comeback to top the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens 60-52 on Saturday night in the Rains Center on Pomona's campus. The Athenas trailed 30-23 after a tough shooting first-half, but CMS responded in the second-half and claimed the eight-point victory in the Sixth Street rivalry game.

Maya Love (CMC) led the Athenas on the night with an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double, her fourth of the season. Corinne Bogle (CMC) and Kailee Severt (CMC) also joined Love in double-figures with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

A slow start to the contest, saw the Sagehens take an early 10-4 lead six minutes into the game. The game remained close until back-to-back threes at the end of the half from the Sagehens gave Pomona-Pitzer a 30-23 lead at the break. Both team struggled offensively in the first-half, CMS went just 10-35 in the opening half (28.6%) while the Sagehens were not much better at 10-27 from the floor (37.0%).

On the backs of Maya Love and Corinne Bogle, the Athenas began the second-half on a mission. CMS tied the game at 34-34 midway through the third-quarter on a Bogle jumper. During the 11-4 run to start the second-half, Bogle scored eight points and Love added three to help CMS tie the game.

After leveling the contest, the Athenas' offense was held to just two points over the final 5:15 of the quarter. During this stretch, Pomona-Pitzer built a slim 39-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A quick 5-2 Pomona-Pitzer run opened the final stanza and gave the Sagehens a 44-38 advantage less than two minutes into the quarter. The Athenas responded with a 5-0 run over the next minute to close the gap to one point at 44-43.

The Athenas remained close and eventually took their first lead in over 33 minutes when Maya Love put through a layup with 5:12 remaining in the game. Love was fouled on the play and buried her free throw to put the Athenas up 48-46 following the three-point play.

Just a minute later, Pomona-Pitzer's Anita Romero knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 48-48. The free throws were just part of a huge night for the Pitzer junior. Romero scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to keep the Sagehens close in the contest.

Katelynn Nguyen (SC) quickly put the Athenas back ahead with a layup on the other end. Just over a minute later Gloria Bates (CMC) connected on a pair of free throws to put CMS up four at 52-48. Romero and Love then traded buckets on the next four possessions to keep the margin at four-points with 1:11 remaining.

The Sagehens missed a three on their ensuing possession and the Athenas went 4-6 from the free throw line in the final 34 seconds to close out the game and give CMS the 60-52 victory.

With the victory, CMS improves to 3-0 in the SCIAC and 6-2 overall. The Athenas will next take the court on Sunday, Dec. 17 when they host Pacific (Ore.) at 2:00 p.m. in Roberts Pavilion.