REDLANDS – Makenzie Brandon (Seattle, Wash.) scored a game-high 23 points, Elizabeth Messickhad eight points and 14 rebounds, and the Occidental College women's basketball team erased a 10-point halftime deficit on Saturday.
But the calls went the wrong way, Oxy couldn't get good looks at the basket and an important road game at Redlands slipped away from the Tigers in the last 2 minutes, 65-52.
Messick, who was one of several Tigers (14-8, 9-4 SCIAC) in foul trouble all evening, sunk a pair of free throws to tie the game at 52 with 2:41 left. On Redlands' next possession, Marika Staton hit a 24-foot three-pointer that ignited the crowd and a 13-0 Bulldogs' run to finish the game, most of them free throws.
"When Marika hit that three, late in the shot clock, on a possession where we felt like we played solid defense, it really took the wind out of our sails," Occidental coach Anahit Aladzhayan said. "It was a big shot by a very good player."
In the first half, Brandon, Messick, Liz Little (Littleton, Colo.) and Michelle Naito-Lo (Monterey Park) all had two fouls within the first 8 minutes. Rowe joined them on the bench later in the period after picking up her third foul.
The Tigers used a full-court press to jumpstart a 10-0 run to open the second half, forcing the tempo in transition. Naito-Lo hit a three, Brandon had a pair of buckets and free throw, and Messick finally tied the game with 15:13 left to play.
Redlands pulled away again, capitalizing on Oxy turnovers and fouls, that resulted in bonus free throw opportunities. The Bulldogs lead was as much as nine before Messick's free throws evened the game.
Like many Oxy vs. Redlands games, this one wasn't without drama. Stephanie Scamman (Northridge) was thrown out of the game for grazing Brittany Oster following a late foul, with 20 seconds left on the clock, and the game already comfortably in Redlands' hands. Oster fell to the floor, despite hardly being touched by Scamman. The referees huddled for a moment and decided to eject Scamman. On the film, it appears that none of the officials really got a good look at the play and that Scamman should not have been ejected or even charged with a foul.
"We know every time we play Redlands, it's going to be a battle," Occidental coach Anahit Aladzhanyan said. "They a well-coached, aggressive and dynamic team. Both teams circle this game on their schedules and unfortunately this one went their way."
Oxy returns to Rush Gymnasium for the track meet against La Verne on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Last time the two teams met, Brandon scored 54 points and the Tigers edged the Leopards 115-105 at ULV.
"We have an important week of practice and a chance to beat another good team and finish the season strongly," Aladzhanyan said. "All of our goals are still on the table and we're looking forward to this week."