ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team picked up their first win of the 2022-23 season Saturday afternoon erasing some early nerves to beat Macalester College 79-72 in overtime.
The Bulldogs who were taking part in the Chapman Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Chapman University found themselves trailing by four at halftime before rallying late outscoring the Scots 49-38 across the final 25:00 minutes.
Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) poured in a game high 20 points off the bench in 26 minutes of action. She also added six rebounds, three steals and a block. Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) continued where she left off a year ago with 17 points on 3-of-8 shooting, going 9-of-11 from the charity stripe along with four steals and three assists. Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) just missed out on a double double with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Redlands got off to a strong start outscoring the Scots 19-15 across the first ten minutes, shooting 50% from the field led by Jerrier with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. Macalester was able to rebound in the second period putting up 19 points, as UR got cold from the floor. This momentum wouldn't hold though for the Scots as the Maroon and Grey rallied in the third again on the shoulders of Jerrier who added another six points, which pulled UR within two heading into the fourth quarter. That's when Zorich took over putting the game away herself as she lit up the final minutes of regulation and then OT with 18 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. During a stretch in the final period she had ten points in a row and with this career performance lifted the Bulldogs to the come from behind victory.
As a team the Bulldogs shot 43.3% from the field, 30% from three-point territory and 64.9% from the free-throw line. They were outrebounded 45-32, but won the battle in the paint outscoring the Scots 40-36, while forcing 26 turnovers and turning them into 24 points.
Redlands returns to the court this Friday, November 18 at 7:00pm when they host No. 23 Whitman College during the Bulldog-Panther Classic.