LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2010) - A term that is used way to
often in sports, but one that perfectly describes the clash that
took place tonight in Rush Gymnasium between the Athenas and
Tigers, because it truly was a shame that either of these
determined squads had to lose tonight. Playing like they were
the top seed for most of the second half, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
opened up a 10 point lead with ten minutes left in the game, and
held a one point lead with three minutes remaining. But Oxy
responded with a 7-2 run, fueled by the defense of Dior
Williams, to will themselves past the upset minded squad
from Claremont, in the semifinals of the Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post season tournament, by the
final score of 72-69.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps entered the night as the number four seed
in the tournament, but had to win four straight games to qualify
for the post season, but had played very well during that run,
winning by double digits in all four games. That hot streak
continued tonight as they jumped out and efficiently executed their
game plan, quickly pulling ahead 8-4 on the strength of four
interior baskets, setting the tone early.
The Black and Orange had to methodically claw back in front, as
they could not get out and run as much as they would have liked,
but by the nine minute mark of the first half, following the second
consecutive three pointer from Stephanie Babij,
the Tigers retook the lead at 22-19. The zone and sagging man
to man defense of the Athenas clogged up the lane for Babij, who
scored 11 points in the half, but her touch from long distance,
three baskets from beyond the arc in the half, forced
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to extend their defense.
With floor spread the Tigers looked much more comfortable,
Makenzie Brandon was able to slash to the rim for
a score and Katelyn Rowe found some room to
operate inside, her basket putting the Tigers up by
seven. The Athenas were not going anywhere, as Michele
Isono scored five quick points to get her squad within striking
distance, and a freethrow by Taylor Johnson tied the game up for
the seventh time.
Another triple, this time from Brittany Mally
broke the tie, and three straight points by Williams gave the
Tigers some breathing room. But the fourth seeded squad kept
coming after the defending champs, as Sarah Beattie found some
daylight on the ensuing possession, cutting the lead back to four,
and that's how the half would end with Oxy up 35-31.
The second half provided enough drama to last a few games, as
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps came out of the locker room and went on a
18-4 run to start the half. With 12:29 left in the Tigers
season, they were staring at a 10 point deficit, against a team
playing very well.
Both teams settled down and began to trade baskets for the next
few minutes, and as the Black and Orange looked up at the game
clock that read 5:31, they were on the wrong end of a 59-51
scoreboard. Moments like these determine games, the Athenas
had done everything right in the second half, and the Tigers would
need a herculean an effort to comeback.
And that's just what they did, Brandon played like she had been
part of all three SCIAC regular season title squads, pushing
through the defense for a layup. Williams then grabbed a
defensive rebound and went coast to coast for a reverse layup
around two defenders. Brandon came up big again, rejecting a
shot by Taylor Johnson along the baseline, setting up the biggest
steal in Britinee Yasukochi's career.
Yasukochi was face guarding Camille Sheffield with her back to
the baseline, a tough night by the senior guard had her focused
this defensive possession, and as the inbound pass sailed over her
head the Oxy captain was staring at her defensive assignment.
When Sheffield went for the ball Yasukochi instinctively reacted
and put her hands up and ripped the ball away, feeding a streaking
Brandon for a layup, and the scoreboard now read 59-57 with 4:19
left in the season for one of these two great teams.
Gillian Nugent shook free after a turnover and
nailed a fade away jumper from the right wing to complete the 8-0
run in just over ninety seconds. The ninth tie of the game
only meant anything could still happen, as the visitors retook the
lead on a freethrow by Sheffield. It took over 13 minutes,
but a corner three by Nugent three plays later, gave the Tigers
back the lead.
Oxy extended the lead to 68-62 with less then a minute to play,
but sophomore guard Aria Krumwiede had a few heroics left in her
bag of tricks, as she drained a high arcing three to cut the
deficit back to one possession for the Athenas. Four missed
freethrows by the Black and Orange late kept Krumwiede and her
squad close, as the lead guard scored four more points, seven total
in the final minute of play.
With seven seconds on the clock, Yasukochi converted one of two
freethrows, leaving the Tigers up 72-69. Back to back
timeouts, the final chances for both coaching staffs to draw up a
play, with both staffs knowing Krumwiede's number was going to be
called. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps ran her off a screen so she
could catch the ball in motion on her strong side and drive one on
one against Yasukochi full court. Two seconds remained as she
fired up a game tying three, but it was not to be, as the effort
fell just short.
The defending SCIAC champs are now headed to their third
straight title game appearance. While Brandon, 16 points, 8
rebounds, and 4 steals with Babij, 19 points, filled up the stat
sheet. Williams effort on both ends of the floor was a major
factor in the final outcome, as she came up big in the second half
defensively, forcing five turnovers and picking up two steals to
stymie the offensive rhythm of the Athenas (16-10). This,
though, was a total team victory, as they needed every possession
and ounce of heart they could muster to advance to another title
game.
The Tigers (21-5) will now host the co-champions of the SCIAC,
the Redlands (21-5) Bulldogs, this Saturday, February
27th at 5pm. Redlands knocked off Cal Lutheran
63-61 to advance to the finals of the tournament, after back to
back losses, the previous two seasons in the semifinals. This
third matchup will be for much then bragging rights, as the winner
secures the automatic berth to the 2010 NCAA tournament.
Article by Mike Talamantes, Sports Information
Assistant
