CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (12-4, 5-3 SCIAC) trailed by 13 heading into the fourth quarter, but they managed to come all the way back and force overtime (OT) at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Wednesday evening, ultimately falling to the Athenas, 71-64.
The first quarter was the most competitive with five total ties, including at 14-14 at the end of 10 minutes.
Olivia McIntyre (Tacoma, WA) found AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) inside the paint where she scored and drew the foul. Her three gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the game, 17-14, a minute into the second quarter.
At the 5:29 mark of the period Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) beat the Athena defense in transition and extended the U of R lead to six, 24-18. CMS, though, countered the Redlands run with a 13-4 stretch that put the Bulldogs down by their largest margin of three, 31-28.
A late foul by CMS gave Teagan McIlroy (Phoenix, AZ) a pair of free throws that cut the deficit to one after 20 minutes of action.
CMS went on a 12-0 run to begin the third quarter. Redlands' first basket did not come until there was only 4:14 remaining when Carly Hicks (Portland, OR) found Colbi Zorich (Woodinville, WA) for a mid-range jumper.
The Athenas would maintain their double figure advantage after 30 minutes taking a 49-36 lead into the final quarter.
McIntyre and Zorich began the scoring in the fourth as they combined for six points, while the defense held CMS to only five through nearly five minutes of play.
Still trailing by seven with 5:04 on the clock, the Bulldog offense failed to muster any points for the next two minutes before a frantic 8-1 run that tied the game at 57-57.
Hosn was fouled with two seconds remaining and the Bulldogs down one. She made the first but missed the second forcing the game into OT.
CMS scored five of the first seven points in extra time before Redlands scored five of their own seven points to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:23 remaining.
One free throw by Wick and Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA), however, were the only points over the final two plus minutes as the Athenas made all four of their free throws over the final :26 seconds to secure the win.
Wick finished with a double double of 18 points and 11 rebounds and Hosn had 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The Bulldogs shot below 30% percent from the field in every period except the fourth when they made 8-of-16 field goals. Conversely the Athenas were at or above 40% percent in three of five periods.
Redlands returns home to host Occidental College this Saturday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m.
