Athenas Squash Slugs, Win Eighth Straight

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Kate Parrish (CMC) turned in her second-straight double-double to lead the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team past the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs 64-43 on Friday evening. The Athenas took control of the contest by outscoring the Banana Slugs 17-3 in the second quarter. The impressive period helped put the Athenas up 34-16 at the break and, after a relatively even second-half, CMS earned their eighth-straight victory.

The Athenas held Santa Cruz to just a 28.8 shooting percentage from the floor (15-52) and out rebounded the Banana Slugs 48-27 in the contest.

CMS opened up a 12-point lead less than 5:30 into the first quarter after Kailee Severt (CMC) found Parrish for a layup to make it a 15-3 game. The Banana Slugs quickly cut the CMS lead in half after a pair of three-pointers on their next two possessions. By the end of the quarter, the Athenas' lead was just four points at 17-13.

Santa Cruz looked like they were going to carry that momentum into the second quarter when CJ Catina made a three on the Banana Slugs' first possession of the quarter, but that would be the visitors' last points of the half.

The Athenas went on a 17-0 run over the final 9:28 of the period take an 18-point lead at the half. CMS balanced the offensive load among six different scorers in the quarter. Parrish and Lindsey Cleary (CMC) led the Athenas in the period with four points each.

During the quarter, Santa Cruz went just 1-10 from the field and the Athenas forced seven Banana Slug turnovers.

Following the impressive run, CMS held a comfortable 34-26 lead heading into the half.

The Athenas continued to grow their lead at the start of the second-half. A three from Teeana Contangco (CMC) with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter gave CMS their largest lead of the game at 44-20.

Despite the 24-point deficit, the Banana Slugs clawed their way back into the game and eventually cut the lead down to 11 points at 51-40. After a timeout for the Athenas, CMS went on a 12-4 run to close out the final seven minutes of the game and claim the 63-43 victory.

Parrish earned her second-straight double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks while leading 11 different scorers for the Athenas in the game.

The win was their eighth in a row and improves their overall record to 11-2 on the season. The Athenas will next be in action on Monday night when they travel to Occidental at 7:00 p.m.