LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2009) – In a see-saw first half at Rush Gymnasium between Occidental College and UC Santa Cruz, the Tigers returned from the locker room and executed adjustments, coming out on top, winning by a score of 65-48.

While it looked like Samantha Rossi sparked the Tigers nine minutes into the game with back-to-back three-pointers, to erase a one-point deficit, a quick UCSC timeout halted the rally. The teams would exchange buckets for the next five minutes until the Banana Slugs finally knotted the game for the third, and final. time of the half at 20-20. Occidental used a 9-3 run to close out the first half, taking a 29-23 lead into the locker room.

After the intermission the Tigers focused on pushing the pace, containing the ball and crashing the boards, which they were able to do as they put up 36 second-half points. Occidental freshman Makenzie Brandon took things in her own hands as she set the Black and Orange on a 7-0 run, accounting for five points, two offensive rebounds and an assist. The first basket of that series put Oxy up by 10, a double-figure lead they would not let fade over the final 16:46.

A fast-break jumper in the paint by Dior Williams on an assist from Brandon pushed the lead to 21, the largest gap of the afternoon, with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

The Occidental bench put in a solid effort with Rossi pouring in 12 points on a 5-for-8 shooting day after going 4-for-4 in the opening half, second to Williams' 17. Laura Mohler reached nine points and dished out a game-high five assists. Brandon was next in line with four assists, chipping in with seven points and four rebounds while she led all players with four steals.

On the glass, Oxy pulled down 42 rebounds, with 13 offensive. In just 11 minutes of action freshman Katelyn Rowe tallied nine rebounds, five offensive, adding a block and four points. In the same time-frame Brittany Mally grabbed five boards and scored five points.

The Tigers held the Banana Slugs to 29% field goal shooting, while they finished the game shooting 43% from the field overall.

Occidental will have a week off during finals before returning to the court next Sunday, Dec. 20 when they face off with Lakeland College (WI) at 1:00 p.m.