Alverno Tops Caltech 107-34 In Record-Setting Victory

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CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Seven Alverno College players reached double figures as the Inferno rolled to an 107-34 victory over California Institute of Technology this afternoon at the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Caltech Winter Classic in Ducey Gymnasium.

The Inferno (4-7) set the single-game school record with the 107 points, breaking the previous record of 106 set in 2001 versus Stephens College. Today was also just the third time in school history the team reached the century mark, and first time since 2005, scoring 100 versus Mount Mary College.

The record-setting mark is also the most scored by a women's team in CMS's Ducey Gymnasium.

"It's nice to see such a record-setting day happen with seven players in double digits," Alverno head coach Brad Duckworth said. "I thought we really defended well and shared the ball better than we had in a while."

The Inferno defense forced 44 Beaver turnovers, off a school-record 35 Inferno steals. Kristen Speerschneider (New Franken, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) and Amber Meka (Caledonia, Wis./Thomas More) each had a career-high eight takeaways, while Hannah Galstad (Holmen, Wis.) had six.

Offensively, Alverno's 46 field goals made tied the school record set in the 2005 game against Mount Mary. Twelve of the hoops were 3-pointers, breaking the former record of nine made, which was set in 2002 and equaled last season in a victory at Marian University.

The Inferno needed just the first period to break the old mark, with a 10-of-19 performance in the opening half, and finished the game 12-of-29 (41.4%) from downtown.

Speerschneider connected on four of the deep balls, and tied Galstad with a game-high 16 points. Meka and Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) added 14 points apiece, Jamie Hoernke (Mt. Horeb, Wis.) scored 13, while Alyssa Jensen (Cudahy, Wis.) and Anna Boteva (La Crosse, Wis./Central) each had 11.

Hoernke secured her first double-double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds, while Speerschneider tied her career-best with a game-high seven assists.

Marlyn Moore led Caltech with 14 points and Theresa Juarez added 12 for the Beavers (0-9).

"No matter the outcome of today's game, our players were honored to have the opportunity to play against eight of the smartest student-athletes in the world," Duckworth commented.

Alverno will take on hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in the final game of the CMS-Caltech Winter Classic tomorrow at 3 p.m. PST.