PASADENA, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team overcame a six-point first half deficit to post a 51-36 win over Caltech on Saturday night in a SCIAC match-up.

The victory gives Athenas head coach Jodie Burton her 500th career win during her 32nd season at the helm. She is the 14th NCAA Division III women's basketball coach to achieve the milestone.

In a low scoring first half the Beavers solid defense forced 13 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps turnovers and converted those miscues into nine points in taking a 16-10 lead into intermission.

The Athenas raced out to an 8-2 advantage less than five minutes into the game but a stingy Caltech defense helped the home squad score 14 of the first frame's final 16 points. Caltech went 6-for-24 (25 percent) from the field in the stanza while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps hit four of their 32 field goal attempts (12.5 percent).

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps started the second half on 11-2 scoring run in taking a 21-18 lead with 13:43 left in regulation. Caltech responded and took a 24-23 lead on a Rachel Hess jumper with 10:56 remaining. It was the last lead of the game for Caltech. The visitors took control of the game with a 21-5 scoring spurt over the next 6:47 in posting the win.

During the second frame the Athenas posted a 19-5 rebounding edge while shooting 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) from the field to aid in their comeback win.

Lyndsay Bergus scored a game high 19 points while dishing out a team best three assists to pace the Athenas efforts. Madeline Barnes chipped in an 11-point evening.

Rachel Hess had a team best 15 points while contributing game highs in steals (4) and assists (4). Teri Juarez chipped in an eight-point, nine-rebound performance.