REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's basketball team (2-3, 0-1) lost their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener to Pomona-Pitzer, 76-66, Wednesday evening inside Currier Gym.

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start with points from Leila Hosn, Colbi Zorich, and Alex Facelo as they led 6-0.

The Sagehens, though, came all the way back and took a 14-13 lead before Kayden Sanders scored in the paint with 32 seconds left to reclaim the lead in the first. A late Pomona-Pitzer jumper would have Redlands down one after 10 minutes.

Facelo got open for her second three of the game after AJ Wick found her at the 8:57 mark. Wick made it a one-point game on a jump shot off a fastbreak and Avery Shiring then made it a 7-0 run as she found Andrea Perkins for a three pointer to put Redlands ahead, 29-27, for the first time in the quarter.

The lead was short lived, however, as they fell behind by as many as six before Hosn scored the final basket of the half as they went into the break down four, 36-32.

In the opening five minutes of the third, the Sagehens came out ready to go as they took their first double-digit lead. That lead would ballon to as many as 12 with 2:33 to play.

Over the next 2:08 the Bulldogs managed to get back into the game thanks to a 9-2 run that included an and-one from Wick and four points for Zorich.

After the great finish to the third, they were unable to maintain momentum as the game looked over with the Sagehens leading by 14, 70-56, with 6:31 to play.

From the 6:08 mark to the 1:31 mark the Bulldogs held Pomona-Pitzer scoreless and scored 10 unanswered points to draw within four.

Then with 1:10 to play Carly Hicks blocked a baseline shot that got them possession still down only four points. On the other end Facelo would get a contested three that missed. The Sagehens then converted on a layup the next possession and made all four of their free throws down the stretch.

The Bulldogs slow start offensively this season continued as they shot only 38.2 percent from the field and their defense did not hold up as well as it had, conceding a 49.1 percent mark from the field and 47.6 percent from three on 21 attempts (10 makes).

Redlands stays at home as they welcome in Trintiy University (Texas) this Saturday, November 23 at 5:00 p.m.