PASADENA, CA – Pomona-Pitzer overcame a slow start to post a 48-43 win over Caltech in a SCIAC women's basketball match-up at the Braun Athletic Center.

The opening half saw both teams struggle to find the bottom of the net. Pomona-Pitzer scored the first three points of the game but Caltech quickly responded. Held scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of the contest, the Beavers scored 15 of the next 18 points to take a 15-6 with 8:06 left in the frame. The nine point spread was the largest lead of the half for either team.

For much of the final minutes of the half the teams traded points. Caltech eventually took a 23-18 lead into the locker room. During the opening 20 minutes, the Beavers shot 39.1 percent (9-for-23) while the Sagehens found the bottom net of the 22.2 percent (8-for-36) of the time.

The early moments of the second half proved to be a pivotal turning point. The Sagehens opened the second half by scoring eight unanswered points to take a 26-23 lead with 17:06 left in the game. Over the next eight minutes the lead changed teams five times. Pomona-Pitzer made a big push just past the frame's halfway point.

With 9:56 left, Caltech took a 34-33 lead on a Rachel Hess jumper. The Sagehens responded by scoring nine consecutive points to grab a 42-34 advantage with 7:02 left. They would not relinquish that lead.

Caltech made the game close in the final moments. With 22 ticks left on the clock Stephanie Wong nailed a deep three-pointer to get the Beavers within one possession at 46-43. Vanessa Ho missed the front end of a one-and-one on the Sagehens ensuing possession to give Caltech one final chance. However, an Esther Du travel on a jump stop gave the ball  back to the visitors. Juliah Shay Kim nailed two free throws to seal the win for Pomona-Pitzer.

While Pomona-Pitzer converted just 28.8 percent (19-for-66) of their field goal attempts, they turned the ball over just nine times and took advantage of 22 Beaver miscues. The Sagehens held a 16-3 edge in points off turnovers.

The inside play of Jenn Okonkwo paced the Sagehens inside play by scoring 14 points and grabbing a game high 15 rebounds. Shay Kim (14) and Maria Weyhrauch (11) each had double figure scoring efforts in the win.

Stephanie Wong had a game high 21 points on the strength of six made three-pointers. Kristen Anderson grabbed a team best 13 rebounds.