Alyssa Downs Pours in 27 as U of R Women's Basketball Handles Occidental 64-46

Image Credit: Daniel Monroy
Image Credit: Daniel Monroy

Game Highlights

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team handled Occidental College on the road in their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Opener Wednesday night cruising to the 64-46 win in Eagle Rock. 

The Bulldogs extend their winning streak to four games as they improve to 4-1, 1-0 SCIAC.  Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) led the Maroon and Grey with a game high 27 points and nine rebounds, while Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) posted a double double of 15 points and 11 boards.       

It was a slow start to the game with the teams tied early through nearly five minutes before Jerrier went off for six straight to make it 10-4. Downs and Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) each made jumpers soon after as Redlands increased their lead to 14-8 following the opening ten minutes. 

In the second quarter the Bulldogs managed to only put up nine points, six of them coming from Downs and Julia Balestreri (Pleasanton, CA).  But their defensive unit held tough limiting the Tigers to another single digit period as their lead stretched to seven, 23-16, at the half.    

Pagkalinawan and Jerrier each scored in the opening two minutes of the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their first double-digit lead of the game at eleven, 27-16. Following a scoreless spell of 2:46, the Tigers got within seven before Downs and Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA) went back-to-back pushing the lead back to nine, 31-22. 

Jerrier again came up with a big basket as she reestablished the double-digit lead with 2:01 left in the frame, but the Tigers scored the final four points as the lead turned into a two possession game heading into the final quarter.

In the opening three plus minutes of the fourth, Downs scored seven points and had the Bulldogs up by their largest margin, which was twelve, 46-34. She then made it a 15-point lead a few minutes later. 

Over the final minute, Pagkalinawan, Leah Tan (Alhambra, CA), and Downs each made their two free throws to seal the win. 

Pagkalinawan added to the scoring totals with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. 

Redlands shot 39.3% from the field, but a mere 12.5% from three-point territory.  They did hold the advantage on the glass 41-30, outscored the Tigers 28-18 in the paint and added 17 second chance points.  The Bulldogs never trailed in the game and led by as many as 18 thanks to only ten turnovers. 

The Bulldogs return home to Currier Gym for their first SCIAC home game as they host defending 2021-22 SCIAC Tournament Champions Whittier College on Wednesday, December 14 beginning at 5:00pm.