While using 13 players for the second game in a row, the University of Redlands women's basketball team fired off its sixth consecutive win of the season, dismantling the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges by a score of 73-49 on Saturday night in Currier Gym.
The triumph moves Head Coach Rich Murphy to his 99th career victory with the Bulldogs and gives the team its hottest start in the history of the program.
Redlands jumped out to an early lead when senior forward Chelsea Katsch(Davis, CA) and senior guard Ashley Sevilla (San Diego, CA) sank back-to-back baskets to make it 5-0.
After Pomona-Pitzer's Jenn Okonkwo knocked down a pair of free-throws, the Maroon and Gray erupted for a 14-1 run and never looked back.
Late in the stanza, junior guards Marika Staton (El Centro, CA) andColleen Goeser (San Carlos, CA) connected on consecutive shots, pushing Redlands' advantage to 20 points at 31-11.
Minutes later, senior guard Allison Wong (Redding, CA) converted a pair of shots from beyond the arc, capping off the Bulldogs' stellar first half for a lead of 42-18, which came on 55.2% shooting and a 63.6% effort from downtown.
Staton led the charge in the second frame, as the Bulldogs built a 33-point advantage with 7:53 to go. Up to this point in the stanza, Redlands gained at least two points from six players, highlighted by seven from Staton and five from freshman forward Brinsley Farry (Ventura, CA).
The Bulldogs finished out the victory on a high note, with their total-team effort shining in the final minutes. Sophomore forward Vianna Amabile(Temecula, CA), freshman forward Ashton Beth (Windsor, CA) and sophomore guard Melissa Hernandez (Riverside, CA) all chipped in points for the Maroon and Gray.
Staton posted her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season, contributing 17 on 6-for-10 shooting. She also pulled in seven rebounds and dished out two assists.
Sevilla knocked down four three-pointers en route to her 12-point showing. She also had two boards and two assists.
Wong rounded out the top scorers for Redlands with 10 points.
Goeser recorded a game-high four assists to go along with nine points and six rebounds.
Pomona-Pitzer's Okonkwo and Julia Shay Kim both contributed 11 points in the loss.
Redlands (6-0, 2-0 SCIAC) faces off against the defending conference champions on Thursday, when it travels to Eagle Rock for a 7:30 p.m. showdown against the Occidental College Tigers.