CLAREMONT, Ca. – The Pomona-Pitzer women's basketball team defeated California Lutheran 61-47 on Saturday night. The Sagehens shot 42.2% from the field making 27 of 64. Pomona-Pitzer came up with 14 steals on the night as well and picked up 33 rebounds. Kaitlyn Leung led the team with 15 points while Madison Quan had 12 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Emily Church was also close to a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. The Sagehens will be back in action on Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to Whittier.

How It Happened

The Sagehens jumped out to an early lead after a 9-2 run with buckets from Vanessa Hsia, Kaitlyn Leung, and Charlize Andaya. After two points from the Regals, Amara Chidom got the Sagehens going again, hitting a jumper to kickstart a 12-4 run that saw two threes from Madison Quan. The run gave Pomona-Pitzer a 21-8 lead with 1:20 left in the first quarter but came to an end after two free throws from the Regals, cutting the Sagehens lead to 21-10 heading into the second quarter. 

California Lutheran recorded the first four points of the second quarter before Charlie Andaya hit a shot from downtown to make it 24-14 with 8:01 left in the second. Quan and Leung each added a layup to increase the lead to 28-14. Pomona-Pitzer continued to attack as Emily Church and Vanessa Hsia combined for six points to give the Sagehens a 34-18 lead with 3:59 on the clock. The Regals were able to earn a slight 5-4 edge down the stretch, but the Sagehens entered the halftime break up 15 with a 38-23 lead.  

Out of the break, Kaitlyn Leung and Emily Church both recorded a bucket to push the lead to 42-23. California Lutheran went on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 44-29 with 5:46 to play. Allison Murphy brought the run to an end with a midrange jumper with 3:36 left in the third. The two team's traded buckets in the closing minutes of the third, working to a 50-35 lead for the Sagehens heading into the fourth quarter. 

 After over a minute of scoreless play in the fourth, Kaitlyn Leung broke through with a layup to make it 52-35. The Regals responded with a three-pointer to highlight a quick 5-2 run, but Leung brought it to an end with another layup to put the Sagehens up 56-40 with 6:19 left to play. California Lutheran went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 56-46 but Vanessa Hsia came up with a jumper to bring the run to an end with 3:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. The game was scoreless for just over two minutes before the Regals made two free throws. With 53 seconds left, Charlize Andaya came up with a steal, dished it out to Kaitlyn Leung who found a wide-open Allison Murphy for an easy two points. The Sagehens added their last point of the day at the free throw line with a bucket from Vanessa Hsia to give Pomona-Pitzer the 61-47 victory over California Lutheran. 

What's Up Next

The Sagehens will travel to Whittier on Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m.