REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (4-5, 1-1 SCIAC) dropped a thriller to the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) 68-65 on Tuesday evening as the Bulldogs nearly came back with a win following a 13-point deficit.
The offense was hard to come across the opening five minutes as the Bulldogs and Raiders combined for nine points, 5-4. After the great defensive start, the Raiders were able to end the first quarter on a 16-4 run as the Bulldogs trailed by 13, 21-8. In the period Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA), Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA), Carly Hicks (Portland, OR), and Taylor Whaley (Olympia, WA) all chipped in with two points.
Redlands held the Raiders scoreless for nearly two minutes to open the second quarter and Whaley hit a jumper off an Anderson assist. Anderson then converted on a three-point play and Kayden Sanders (Nipomo, CA) knocked down a three as UR drew within six, 22-16, with 5:44 still left in the opening half.
MSOE would stretch the lead to nine, 34-25, before Zorich made a pair of free throws followed by Anderson adding a free throw to get the Bulldogs back to within six, 34-28. Sanders would make it a three-point halftime deficit, 34-31, following a made three off a Zorich assist as time expired.
Hicks made a three to open Redlands' scoring in the second half with the Bulldogs down five, 38-33. The three started a surge of twelve in a row as the Bulldogs led 45-38 with 5:19 remaining in the quarter. Since the end of the first period the Bulldogs had outscored the Raiders by 20. During the run Anderson, Zorich, and Avery Shiring (Yorba Linda, CA) all scored.
After the 12-0 run, MSOE responded with eleven of their own run as they regained the lead after 30 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs trailed by as many as seven with only 2:39 left in the game, but Redlands battled back once again, this time going on a 7-0 run as they tied the game at 65-65 with :36 seconds left. Zorich made two free throws, Hicks was fouled on a three conerting them all, and then Zorich made another two free throws that deadlocked the contest.
After another strong comeback, the Raiders scored the final three points as the Bulldogs fell in their non-conference bout.
Anderson and Zorich each missed a double-double by one rebound. Anderson scored 17 points (5-12 FG, 1-3 3FG, 6-11 FT) and Zorich had 14 points (3-10 FG, 8-8 FT). Hicks was the third Bulldog in double figures with 13 points (3-9 FG, 2-6 3FG, 5-5 FT), while adding a career-high seven rebounds.
The Bulldogs will close out their non-conference schedule and 2023 with a second match-up with Bethesda University on Thursday, December 28 at 5:00 p.m. inside Currier Gym.
