REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (2-3, 0-1 SCIAC) lost their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener to Pomona-Pitzer, 76-66, Wednesday night inside Currier Gym.
The Bulldogs got off to a quick start with points from Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA), Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA), and Alex Facelo (San Jose, CA) as they led 6-0.
Pomona-Pitzer though, came all the way back and took a 14-13 lead before Kayden Sanders (Nipomo, CA) scored in the paint with :32 seconds left to reclaim the lead in the first quarter. A late Pomona-Pitzer jumper would have Redlands down one after ten minutes.
Facelo got open for her second three of the game after AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) found her at the 8:57 mark of the second. Wick made it a one-point game on a jumper off a fastbreak and Avery Shiring (Yorba Linda, CA) then made it a 7-0 run after she found Andrea Perkins (Seal Beach, CA) for a triple to put Redlands ahead, 29-27, for the first time in the period.
The lead was short lived, however, as the Maroon and Grey fell behind by as many as six before Hosn scored the final basket of the half as the Bulldogs went into the break down four, 36-32.
In the opening five minutes of the third, the Sagehens came out ready to go as they took their first double-digit lead. That advantage would balloon to as many as 12 with 2:33 to play.
Over the next 2:08 the Bulldogs managed to get back into the game thanks to a 9-2 run that included an and-one from Wick and four points for Zorich.
After the great finish to the third, Redlands was unable to maintain momentum as the game looked over with the Sagehens leading by 14, 70-56, with 6:31 left.
Spanning the next four and a half minutes the Bulldogs held Pomona-Pitzer scoreless and scored ten unanswered points to draw within four.
Then with 1:10 to play Carly Hicks (Portland, OR) blocked a baseline shot that got them possession still down only four points. On the other end Facelo would get a contested three that missed. The Sagehens then converted on a layup the next possession and made all four of their free throws down the stretch.
The Bulldogs shot only 38.2 percent from the field and their defense conceded a 49.1 percent mark from the field by the Sagehens and a 47.6 percent from three on 21 attempts (10 makes).
Three players reached double figures led by Wick who poured in 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting along with seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three assists. Hosn added another 12 points with seven assists and five steals and Zorich would follow with 10 points shooting 50% from the field with six boards and two steals.
Redlands remains at home this Saturday, November 23 as they welcome in Trinity University (Texas) beginning at 5:00 p.m.
