PASADENA, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team bounced back Wednesday night following a road loss to La Verne this past Saturday edging Caltech 59-53 to improve to 8-4, 3-1 SCIAC.
"We played a solid game tonight despite missing a few shots that we normally make," explained Head Coach Rich Murphy. "Caltech is a tough team to play, especially on the road and they came out prepared. It is nice though to pull out a win regardless of how it gets done!"
Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) led the Bulldogs by dominating the glass with a career high 20 rebounds, fifteen of which came on the defensive end. She also added eight points and had a six blocks, one off her career high. Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) added a double double with a 19-point and 10-rebound effort, which included five triples. Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA) was the third Bulldog in double figures adding 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, while adding five boards, two assists and a steal.
The Maroon and Grey held an early four-point advantage after the opening period and then led by two at the break. Following 30 minutes of play UR then found themselves down by one, but managed to outscore the Beavers 18-11 across the final ten minutes to pull out the six-point victory.
Redlands got off to a great start in the first quarter thanks to Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) who had four points and Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) with another three. UR held CIT to just six points over the first nine minutes and would lead 13-9.
Caltech pulled within two to start the second quarter needing just two minutes. Downs then responded from deep that pushed the score to 18-13 at the 6:46 mark.
With under five minutes to play in the quarter Pagkalinawan gave Redlands their largest lead of the game following an and-one that made it 23-15. Downs would then hit a three with just over a minute remaining and that made it 28-21. Caltech would weather the storm however ending the quarter on a 5-0 run cutting the deficit to two, 28-26.
The Beavers continued their run to start the second half scoring the first two baskets to take their first lead of the game 30-28. They would extend their advantage to four, minutes later, 34-30, but it wouldn't hold as Anderson would spark seven unanswered by the Bulldogs connecting inside followed by Downs who would knock down a jumper and a three-pointer putting UR back on top 37-34.
The back-and-forth continued as the Beavers retook the lead a minute later, 39-37 and then again 42-39. But across the final 1:16 of the quarter UR would hold CIT scoreless, while receiving a layup from Anderson that made it a one-point game.
In the fourth Redlands had a quick 6-1 run to jump in front 47-43. Anderson was one of two from the charity stripe, Jerrier converted a layup inside and Pagkalinawan added a three-pointer. The Bulldogs' defensive unit also stood tough extending the Beavers' scoreless drought to four minutes and 51 seconds. The Jerrier layup put UR on top for good and six in a row by Anderson and Downs would tack on insurance helping Redlands hold on for the road win.
The Bulldogs shot 32.8% from the field, 40% from three-point territory and 55% from the free-throw line. They pounded the glass holding the advantage 52-38, added 18 second chance points, 24 points in the paint, and added 11 points off turnovers.
Redlands remains on the road this Saturday, January 7 when they take on Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 2:00pm.