While utilizing all available players, the University of Redlands women's basketball team relied on a total-team effort to cruise to a 63-39 victory over the visiting Beavers of Caltech in tonight's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown in Currier Gym. After a tight first period that forced the Bulldogs into a two-point deficit, the team stepped up its defense to dissuade the Beavers' rhythm. In addition, Redlands ran away with the win by shooting lights out in the fourth quarter with various line-ups on the floor.
Down by a score of 15-17 to start the second quarter, Redlands made the necessary adjustments to take control of the game over the next few minutes while out-scoring Caltech by a 19-5 margin. Sophomore guard Brooke Hulett (Poway, CA) fired off six of her career-high 13 points during this stretch, as she knocked down a pair of three-pointers for the Maroon and Gray. Junior guard Yoemma Esparza (Shafter, CA) and sophomore guard Caitlyn Dixon (Seattle, WA) added to the long-distance scoring by hitting one long-range bucket apiece. Furthermore, junior guard Jade Cheldelin (Portland, OR) provided four points in an efficient seven minutes of action.
In a messy third quarter, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 20 points with a 10-2 run that included four points each from senior forward Brinsley Farry (Ventura, CA) and sophomore forward Reyna Ta'amu (Lakewood, CA). Ta'amu also provided three offensive boards in the hard-fought frame.
Both teams regained their offensive rhythms in the final quarter, but the Maroon and Gray remained well ahead by shooting 63.6% en route to the 24-point win. Hulett capped off her career night with another trey-ball to go along with two put-back jumpers off of her offensive rebounds. She finished the night with 13 points, five offensive boards, two assists, and one steal in only 16 minutes of action.
In addition to Hulett, Redlands gained 12 points from the Bulldog bench brigade, with freshman guard Brenna Dela Rosa hitting her first career bucket on a nothing-but-net three-pointer with 2:29 left in the game. Junior forward Sydney Bennett (Agoura Hills, CA) and sophomore forward Allison Siksnus (Placentia, CA) added to the late-game scoring as well.
Cheldelin finished with a game-high 14 points, which came off of 7-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes of action. Junior guard Selena Iriarte (Wilmington, CA) made a big difference in 12 minutes by dishing out five assists and grabbing five rebounds.
With the win, Redlands (9-12, 6-6 SCIAC) remains in fourth place in the conference standings with four games to play. The Bulldogs head to Chapman University on Saturday, February 13, for a 4 p.m. match-up against the Panthers.
