CMS Women's Basketball Rolls to Senior Day Win over Caltech

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team honored its two seniors, Jacey Carter and Ariana Dalia, before their final weekend home game, and the duo then went out and combined for 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as the Athenas cruised to an 82-53 win over Caltech on Saturday afternoon at Roberts Pavilion.

CMS finished with five players in double figures in scoring as it moves to 13-5 overall and 9-2 in the SCIAC, moving into a tie for second with Redlands and staying in the hunt for the regular season title with a key game coming at first-place La Verne on Wednesday. Caltech slips to 6-14 overall and 3-8 in the SCIAC with the loss. 

The first time the two teams met, the Athenas prevailed in overtime 58-52, with Renee Chong forcing the overtime with a jumper with 14 seconds left to tie the score at 48-48. Dalia missed that game, and her presence with 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals helped make the rematch far more lopsided. 

Chong got CMS going early with eight of the Athenas' first 10 points, putting CMS ahead for good 10-8 with a three-pointer. Katie Resendiz capped off the first quarter with a three-pointer to give CMS a 24-13 lead heading into the second. 

The Beavers stayed within striking distance, keeping the score 38-26 at the half, but the Athenas used a 26-9 third quarter to blow the game wide open. Ruva Kiara had seven points in the quarter, and Ava Grey knocked down both of her three-point attempts. 

Chong finished with 12 points, Mary Markaryan had 11, and Kiara finished with 10 for the Athenas, who had five players in doubles for the first time this season. CMS also had a 45-26 edge on the boards, led by nine from Dalia, eight from Chong and seven from Markaryan. 

CMS will be back in action on Wednesday at La Verne, when it will try to hand the Leopards their first conference loss.