LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2007) - Occidental took control with a 12-0 run midway through the first half and cruised to a 87-55 victory over Caltech Thursday, Jan. 11 at Rush Gym.  The Tigers, who improved to 8-4 overall, face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this Saturday, Jan. 13 in an important early-season SCIAC match-up.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5pm.

Occidental displayed solid ball movement and crisp passing in the victory, dishing a season-high 26 assists.  Gillian Nugent '10 sparked the decisive first half run with a three-pointer off a feed from Stacie Roshon '08, stretching the Tigers'  lead to 16-10.  Roshon found Amelia Abernathy '07 underneath the basket for an easy hoop and drained an 18-footer from the top of the key off an assist from Nugent.

Dior Williams '10 hit a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to 22-10 and fed Laura Mohler '10 for a three-pointer to cap the rally.  Caltech never got closer than 19 points the remainder of the first half and trailed by as many as 40 in the second frame.

Jessica Cross '10 scored five of her team-high 17 points in the first half and grabbed 12 rebounds.  Nugent sank two more threes in the second half and finished with 14 points.  Brittany Mally '10 added 13 points and three assists.   Fourteen Tigers saw action in the game and eleven scored points.

Tonight's game was billed as "The Return of Amanda Bozovich", a two-time Occidental letterwinner who transferred to Caltech last fall.   Instead, it turned into a showcase for junior guard/forward Rene Davis, who poured in a game-high 24 points with 21 rebounds.  Freshman Lisa Yee scored eight points while Lindsay King added seven.   Bozovich scored six points on back-to-back three-pointers in the first half.