Staunch Defense Leads CMS Women's Basketball to Win Against Dallas

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-1) women's basketball team outscored the University of Dallas (0-3) 14-2 in the fourth quarter to pull away and earn a 58-24 win over the Crusaders, opening the David Wells Classic with its second consecutive win on Friday afternoon at the Rains Center at Pomona-Pitzer.

CMS improves to 3-1 on the season as the Athenas' defense forced 37 turnovers, converted the turnovers into 33 points, and held Dallas to 12.5 percent from the field. Teeana Cotangco led all scorers with 11 points off the bench, Gloria Bates chipped in with eight points in reserve, and Maya Love added seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Athenas opened the game and quickly grabbed a 13-3 advantage, including a 9-0 run, capped by a Kate Parrish jumper at 4:29 and a Lauren Longo free-throw with 2:55 left in the first period. Parrish finished with six points on two-of-eight shooting. A steal and a lay-up by Cotangco with 39 seconds left in the quarter extended the Athenas lead to 19-8 after one-quarter of play.

In the second quarter, the Athenas started off on the right foot with a three-point basket from Maezelle Millan extending their lead to 22-8 less than one minute in. Millan finished the game with five points on two-of-four shooting and that one three-pointer.

The Athenas used five second-quarter points from Millan to extend their lead to 36-16 heading into halftime. In the second half, the Athenas outscored the Crusaders 23-8 to secure their third win of the season, and second in a row, 58-24. The two points allowed in the fourth quarter were the lowest given up in a quarter this season and the 37 turnovers forced were a season-high up to this point.

Corinne Bogle scored four points and grabbed one rebound with three assists, Kellie Okamura and Katelynn Nguyen hit three-pointers for their only buckets, and Lindsey Cleary dished three assists and scored three points as a starter.

CMS is back in action on Saturday night at the David Wells Classic, facing The College of New Jersey at 7 p.m. at Roberts Pavilion for its home opener.