REDLANDS, Calif. – AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) gave the University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (10-9, 5-5 SCIAC) the lead three times in the final minute against the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), including making the game winning layup with just over a second remaining as the Bulldogs came back for a 60-58 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win inside Currier Gym Wednesday evening.
The Beavers held a pair of early leads before Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) and Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) scored back-to-back baskets for an 8-4 advantage in the first three minutes of the first quarter.
This lead grew to as many as nine, 13-4, after Alex Facelo (San Jose, CA) assisted Carly Hicks (Portland, OR) on a three and Hosn made a jumper after an offensive rebound. The Bulldogs held onto their lead the remainder of the quarter.
Caltech took the lead in the first three minutes of the second period and extended that lead to five, 27-22, with five minutes remaining in the opening half.
Wick, Leaya McKinney (Sedalia, CO), and Facelo combined on a 9-2 run that reclaimed the lead with 1:32 on the clock. The Beavers, however, scored the final five points of the half, including a three from just inside half court as they led, 34-31, at the half.
The deficit was seven with 2:31 left in the third, but Wick continued to carry most of the offensive load as she made three free throws to reduce the deficit to two possessions, 44-40, after 30 minutes.
The Bulldogs did not hold their first lead of the half until there were only a minute left to play when Wick scored in the paint putting UR in front 55-54.
Following a responding Caltech basket, Hosn found Wick for a jumper to retake the lead coming out of a timeout with :18 seconds on the clock.
Redlands would get a stop on defense and Wick went to the line after being fouled with only :13 ticks left. At the line she made 1-of-2 and extended the lead to two, 58-56.
Following a Beaver timeout they brought the ball up the floor and were able to draw a foul, which they turned into a pair of made free throws that tied the game up.
Head coach Rich Murphy called his final timeout and advanced the ball into the front court. There, the Bulldogs lobbed the ball into Wick in the post. She turned and got blocked but grabbed the loose ball and scored the game-winning basket with just over a second remaining.
Wick had her first career 20-20 game with 25 points and 24 rebounds. The 24 rebounds are tied for the second most in a single game in program history. It is one off the record set by Leslie Ferguson in the 1994-95 season. It is also one of just five 20-rebound games.
The Bulldogs will look to use the momentum of the win after their bye this weekend when they go to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps next Wednesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m.
