LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2010) - With a share of the
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title on
the line tonight against the University of La Verne, a squad
that had faced the Tigers in the finals of the SCIAC conference
tournament the past two seasons, and with the squad donning pink
laces in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, no more motivation was
needed for Oxy to bring their best tonight. And it showed, as
the Tigers put their foot on the gas and never looked back tonight,
rolling to a 76-41 victory over the Leopards.
By the midway point of the first half Oxy was already up by
double digits, but would have to survive a surge from the Leopards,
as they cut the lead to seven with seven minutes to play in the
half. The Tigers responded, as Katelyn Rowe
ignited an 11-0 run, sealing her man on the high side on
consecutive possessions, to give Laura Mohler a
great target to lob in two arcing passes that Rowe finished
easily. Stephanie Babij then connected on a
short corner jumper followed by a driving layup by Mohler.
Rowe then scored again inside, off a feed from Gillian
Nugent, and finished the run by connecting on a
freethrow. The lead now ballooned to 18, and the Leopards
would never mount a serious threat the rest of the way. Oxy
cruised into halftime leading 36-19.
The Tigers shot 60.9% from the field in the half, limiting the
Leopards to 25.0% from the field, led by the 10 points of
Babij on 4-6 shooting from the floor. Up 17 at the half, the
Tigers had their sights set on not only clinching at least a share
of their third consecutive regular season crown, but also extending
their current winning streak to 12.
Oxy came out in the second half looking like a team on a
mission, and led by the sharp shooting of Samantha
Rossi, who scored nine points on 3-3 shooting behind the
arc, continued to push the tempo. The Tigers shot 53.8% in
the half, but ratcheted up the defense, and held the Leopards to
only seven baskets in the final twenty minutes.
La Verne (11-13, 4-9) was led by Clarissa Holz with 10
points. Oxy finished with three double digit scorers as Babij
led all players with 16 points, Rossi finished with 11 in only 12
minutes of action, and Mohler rounded out the trio with 10 of her
own. Rowe led the Tigers with seven rebounds and just missed
double digits with nine points.
Tonight the Tigers had their Pink Zone night, joining forces
with the National Basketball Coaches Association to promote
awareness of breast cancer. Marsha Schnirring, Occidental College
librarian, a two-time breast cancer survivor was an honorary coach
for the evening. The team wore pink shoe laces in memory of those
who have lost the battle and in support of those who continue to
fight.
Although the regular season is far from over, looking to next
week, the Tigers have clinched the number one seed throughout the
SCIAC conference tournament. Meaning they play at home on
Thursday, February 25th, against either Claremont-Mudd-Scripps or
Whittier. Both teams are tied for fourth going into the
regualr season finale on Saturday.
Redlands will also have more at stake Saturday then just a
conference title, as a win Saturday over Oxy would clinch home
court in the semifinals, against Cal Lutheran.
Riding a 12 game winning streak and with a share of the SCIAC
title already in hand, the Tigers (20-4, 12-1) now host the
University of Redlands (19-5, 11-2) this Saturday in Rush Gymnasium
with an outright title on the line. Tipoff is at 5pm.
