CMS Women's Basketball Fights Back but Falls Late to Redlands

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team used a stifling full court press to rally from a 20-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Redlands was able to respond to the challenge with a late run and take a 61-55 win over the Athenas on Wednesday evening at Roberts Pavilion.

With the win, Redlands improves to 11-10 overall and 7-6 in the SCIAC, while CMS slips to 4-18 overall and 2-12 in league play with the loss. 

Tanya Ghai led CMS for a third straight game with 19 points, after scoring a career-high 35 and 26 in the previous two against Chapman and Occidental. Katie Resendiz had 11 points, nine rebounds, four steals and one block for CMS while Syona Mandyam had her first career double-digit game with 10 points, three assists and two steals for the Athenas. 

Colbi Zorich led Redlands with a game-high 23 points, making 11-of-12 free throws while Aj Wick added 17 rebounds and two blocks for the Bulldogs.

CMS struggled in the first period while falling into a 20-6 deficit before Redlands took its largest lead of the game, 30-10, in the second period. The Athenas then went to the full-court press and forced Redlands into 26 turnovers on the night, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-10 in the third period. A Resendiz lay-up got CMS within three, 40-37 with 2:07 remaining before Redlands ended the period on a 5-0 run to take a eight-point lead into the fourth.

Sadie Heckman converted a jumper that tied the game at 51-51 with 3:42 remaining in the game. Redlands made five foul shots to take a 56-51 lead and Mary Markaryan made two free throws with 1:10 remaining to make it a one-possession game, but the Athenas were unable to come any closer as the Bulldogs sealed the game at the foul line.

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to face Pomona-Pitzer in a Sixth-Street rivalrly matchup at 4 p.m.