Spirited Defensive Effort Leaves Athenas Basketball Just Short at League-Leading Whittier

WHITTIER, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team nearly shut out SCIAC-leading Whittier for the entire second quarter as it tried to dig out of an early hole, but couldn't come all the way back before falling 55-48 on Monday evening.

Whittier improves to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the SCIAC on the year after seeing its early 22-3 lead cut down to four points. CMS slips to 3-13 overall and 1-7 in the SCIAC with the loss. 

Katie Resnediz helped lead the CMS comeback effort with 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Ruva Kiara just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. 

Resendiz knocked down a three-pointer with 1:06 left in the first quarter for the first Athena field goal of the game, cutting the deficit to 22-6. That started a quick spurt to close the quarter to give CMS some momentum which carried through the rest of the half. Kiara knocked down a three-pointer on the next Athena possession and Mary Markaryan split two at the line to make the score 23-10 going into the second quarter. 

CMS then flipped the script with a dominant defensive quarter in which Whittier did not score a point until a three from Citlalli Gurrola with 46 seconds left. A Resendiz jumper with 1:45 left in the half capped off a 13-0 run for the Athenas, as they were able to get back to within 26-19 at the break.  

The lead stayed at seven points after three quarters, as CMS was able to get two Resendiz foul shots and a Kiara layup to get to within 39-32 heading into the fourth. The Poets got the lead back up to 13 at 47-34 with 6:02 left, and CMS had one final rally, running off seven unanswered to get to within 47-41, but couldn't get any closer as Whittier hung on for the win. 

CMS will be back in action when it hosts La Verne on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest.